Buyende District Woman MP Sarah Namulondo has asked the Government to urgently intervene to protect residents from crocodile attacks following the death of an elderly man and the loss of livestock in communities near Lake Kyoga.
Raising a matter of urgent public importance in Parliament under Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure, Namulondo said the attacks had heightened fear among residents, disrupted livelihoods and exposed communities to the danger posed by crocodiles.
She cited the death of Batuli Joseph, an elderly resident of Nkoone Village in Irundu Sub-county, who was killed and eaten by crocodiles, as well as an incident in Kiwongoire Village, Buyanja Sub-county, where Baziriyo lost two cows to crocodile attacks.
Namulondo urged the Government, through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), to strengthen measures to prevent further attacks and protect both human lives and property.
She also called for compensation for families that have lost loved ones and individuals whose livestock have been killed by crocodiles.
The legislator further asked the Government to work with local authorities to establish long-term measures to reduce the risk, including safe water collection points and protective infrastructure.
Two crocodiles captured
Julius Bwanga, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) for Irundu Sub-county, said the death of Batuli on September 23, 2026, had left residents fearful of accessing the lake for water and fishing.
Batuli, a resident of Butoli A in Nkoone Parish, was reportedly attacked and eaten by crocodiles, with his remains discovered the following day.
Bwanga said the incident disrupted daily activities, particularly for women who depend on the lake for domestic water, and fishermen whose livelihoods depend on fishing.
“The crocodile has been a danger to the community,” Bwanga said, adding that the reptiles had chased women away from the lake as they attempted to fetch water.
He said local authorities had engaged UWA officials in Kampala following the fatal attack, resulting in a team arriving in the area on October 20 to begin trapping the crocodiles.
Two crocodiles were captured on October 22 and taken away by UWA, providing relief to residents who had been afraid to approach the lake.
However, Bwanga warned that more crocodiles remained in the lake and could continue threatening communities.
He appealed to UWA to sustain the trapping exercise until the danger to residents had been significantly reduced.
Residents face livelihood challenges
The attacks have highlighted the difficult choices facing communities that depend on Lake Kyoga for water and income but must contend with the risk of encounters with crocodiles.
For residents who rely on the lake for fishing and household water, avoiding the shoreline can disrupt essential daily activities and economic survival.
Namulondo’s proposed interventions include providing safer water access points to reduce the need for residents to enter crocodile-infested waters, alongside protective infrastructure and continued wildlife management.
Her call for compensation also raises the question of how families affected by wildlife attacks can be supported after losing relatives or livestock.
The latest incidents have renewed calls for sustained cooperation between UWA, district authorities and communities to prevent further attacks and ensure that residents can safely access essential resources.
While the capture of two crocodiles has offered temporary relief, local leaders say continued intervention is necessary because other crocodiles remain in the lake.
