News
Crocodile attack claims fifth victim in two years in Buyende parish
The reptile dragged Batuli into the papyrus reeds, where it mauled him, leaving only his skull, ribs and one hand.
The reptile dragged Batuli into the papyrus reeds, where it mauled him, leaving only his skull, ribs and one hand. (File photo)
By: Tom Gwebayanga, Journalist @New Vision
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A 36-year-old man has been mauled to death by a crocodile in Buyende district, bringing to five the number of people killed in similar attacks in Nkoone parish over the past two years.
Joseph Batuli, a resident of Butooli zone, was attacked on September 26, 2026, while fishing along the flooded shores of Lake Kyoga. He had gone into the waist-high water to cast his nets without using a boat when the crocodile reportedly grabbed him.
The reptile dragged Batuli into the papyrus reeds, where it mauled him, leaving only his skull, ribs and one hand.
His body was identified by fellow fishermen on Sunday evening, according to Busoga North Police spokesperson Samson Lubega.
Nkoone LC2 chairperson Peter Madooga said Batuli had repeatedly been warned against wading into the water while fishing but had ignored the advice.
A crowd gathered along the lakeshore as police retrieved Batuli's body from the reeds. A post-mortem examination was conducted before the body was released for burial.
Madooga told New Vision that Batuli was the fifth person to die in crocodile attacks in the area in two years, while nine others had survived attacks, sustaining injuries and disabilities.
Last year, James Ocheng, a resident of Kiwantaama Asekenyi village in Nkoone, survived a crocodile attack after the reptile pulled him from a boat and pushed its sharp teeth into the front and rear lobe of his chest. He managed to fight it off and escape.
Nkoone LC2 chairperson Peter Madooga said Batuli had repeatedly been warned against wading into the water while fishing but had ignored the advice.
A crowd gathered along the lakeshore as police retrieved Batuli's body from the reeds. A post-mortem examination was conducted before the body was released for burial.
Madooga told New Vision that Batuli was the fifth person to die in crocodile attacks in the area in two years, while nine others had survived attacks, sustaining injuries and disabilities.
Last year, James Ocheng, a resident of Kiwantaama Asekenyi village in Nkoone, survived a crocodile attack after the reptile pulled him from a boat and pushed its sharp teeth into the front and rear lobe of his chest. He managed to fight it off and escape.
Lubega attributed the attacks to flooding that had overwhelmed the lake shores, bringing crocodiles closer to the mainland and people's homes. He said the reptiles were especially likely to be encountered after 7:30 pm.
UWA experts weigh in
Oswald Tumanya, a crocodile specialist and catcher with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), warned residents against provoking the reptiles by entering their habitats.
“Aware that water is the reptiles' habitat, why do you dare wade there?” Tumanya asked, adding that shortly, the authority shall conduct public sensitisation engagements to minimise future calamities.
In response to the attacks, members of the public have killed several crocodiles and captured others before calling UWA to relocate them.
UWA experts weigh in
Oswald Tumanya, a crocodile specialist and catcher with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), warned residents against provoking the reptiles by entering their habitats.
“Aware that water is the reptiles' habitat, why do you dare wade there?” Tumanya asked, adding that shortly, the authority shall conduct public sensitisation engagements to minimise future calamities.
In response to the attacks, members of the public have killed several crocodiles and captured others before calling UWA to relocate them.