Primary school pupil 'killed by crocodile'

NAKASONGOLA - A 13-year-old girl is believed to have been mauled by a crocodile in River Kafu in Nakasongola district.

Doreen Katusiime, a Primary Five pupil at Kaikanga Primary School, is said to have gone to fetch water at a crossing at the river at around 6pm Wednesday evening with her younger sibling, Brenda Nanyonga.

"When they came back from school, they had their meal and decided to go to fetch water. They met some of their friends there," said their father, Disan Kirya.

"Nanyonga filled first and decided to move a few metres to wait for her sister. However, as she moved away, she heard her sister screaming, and by the time she turned, a crocodile was already dragging her away," said Kirya.

He was told of the deadly event by his daughter who managed to escape.

Nanyonga and some other girls who were around made alarms that attracted people to the scene, not far from their home.

"We went to the spot where we had been told that she was fetching water from. We started searching but up to now, the body has not yet been found," said the distraught father.

 A section of the River Kafu. (Credit: Priscillay Nyamahunge)

Cases of crocodile attacks on humans in the area used to be common in the past.

According to Kirya, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) cautioned them against killing such animals, which he said is one way of protecting the wild animals at the expense of the lives of humans living in the area.

Sgt. Margaret Adong, the in-charge at Kafu police post, called upon the family members to be calm as the search continues. She called upon parents to desist from sending their children to fetch water without the company of an adult.

WHAT PEOPLE SAID

Geoffrey Bagonza: "Government should help us construct wells and boreholes such that we avoid moving to such dangerous places for water. However, apparently, we have no option but to put our lives in danger because we have no other water source."

Joyce Nyanjura: "Such crocodile attacks used to be so common in the past. We are so scared now that the water source area is turning out to be a danger zone."

Nankorogo Nanyonga: "Uganda Wildlife Authority should come and pick such animals from here and gazette a suitable habitat for them because our lives are in danger."