By Jennifer Acheng
A 68-year-old man in Abim district is currently nursing serious injuries he sustained in an attack by a stray Buffalo.
Amuya Longoli, a resident of Tyen Apok village, Kathimongor parish, Alerek sub-county in Abim district was reportedly attacked on Monday morning from his garden, where he had gone to harvest tamarind for sale. The attack left him with deep wounds on several parts of the body.
According to reports, Longoli was first rushed to Alerek health Centre III, but later referred to Abim general hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
Luke Ojok Ongombi, a resident of Alerek who has since created a Whatsapp platform to give updates on damage caused by wildlife, says the victim is currently stuck at the hospital with no proper treatment being provided.
Ongombi says amidst the rampant human wild-life conflict being experienced in the district, several attempts to engage UWA and district authorities have been fruitless, with affected farmers yet to be compensated from last year.
He is now calling upon UWA authorities to urgently track down the stray buffalo to avoid further attacks in the nearby future
Richard Muhabwe, the chief warden Kidepo conservation area when contacted by Etoil A Karamoja, confirmed the incident saying they have already dispatched UWA team to drive back the stray animal to the park. Muhabwe says the authority has already released funds to cater for the victim’s treatment.
Muhabwe also warned locals against poaching, further urging them to always report such cases in a timely manner, in order for the compensation process to run smoothly
Since last year, stray wild animals that escape from the Kidepo wild life conservation area have reportedly gone on rampage destroying several acres of crop gardens, especially in the areas of Olem, Kathimongor, Kotholu, Koninu, tyen Okwer,otumpili among other places, leaving farmers counting loses .
