Stray dogs maul two minors in Masaka

Oct 10, 2017

According to residents, stray dogs have been on rampage for the last three months, prompting them to raise an alarm to the district authorities

Patricia Nakabugo after her wounds were dressed

Two minors are in critical condition after they were attacked and mauled by a pack of stray dogs. The incident occurred on Saturday at Mpungwe village inMukungwe sub-county, Masaka district at 5:00pm.

The victims have been identified as Patricia Nakabugo and Sadat Kasozi, both five years old.

They are receiving treatment at Masaka Hospital. Caroline Nayiga, Nakabugo's mother, was also injured while fighting to rescue the children.

Nayiga explained that the pack of over 30 dogs then left Kasozi and started chasing her.

While running, Nakabugo tripped and fell and the dogs pounced on her. They bit, leaving her unconscious. Nayiga made an alarm that attracted residents who took them to hospital.

However, health workers at the facility revealed that the hospital lacked rabies vaccine to treat the victims.  They advised Nayiga to go to the Animal Health Research Centre in Entebbe to get the service.

One of the health workers said they gave the victim first aid, including applying povidoneiodine to kills viruses.

According to residents, stray dogs have been on rampage for the last three months, prompting them to raise an alarm to the district authorities.

However, they say nothing has been done.

Denis Paul Kabugo, the Mukungwe sub-county chief, said they have appealed to district leaders to intervene and kill the dogs before they wreak more havoc.

Jude Mbabaali, the Masaka district LC5 chairperson, said they are working with local leaders to ensure they vaccinate domestic dogs and cats and kill the stray dogs.

Over the years, stray dogs have become a common problem in different communities in the central region.

In 2010, the dogs mauled to death 72-year-old Dodovick Lubwama, a resident of Kiwenjula, Butenga sub-county, Bukomansimbi district.

They also killed 20 goats and two cows. In 2013, they killed two people and wounded others in Kajogi and Kibona villages in Rakai district. Five were admitted to hospital in critical condition.

In 2015, eight people were hospitalised after sustaining severe injuries in separate dog attacks in Sembabule district, in a space of three months.

 

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