A 15-year-old boy has been admitted to Rubuguri Health Centre IV in critical condition after his buttocks were severely injured by baboon bites.
The victim, whose name has been withheld due to his age, is the son of Tuwangye Duriyano of Nyabaremura cell in Rubuguri town council, adjacent to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The boy was sent by his parents on Friday to go and guard their potato garden from animal destruction from wild animals from Biwdin Impenetrable National Park, where in the morning at around 8 a.m. the baboon attacked him as he attempted to chase a troop of baboons out of the sweet potato garden.
According to eyewitnesses, the troop leader of the baboons became violent, grabbed the boy, and bit him several times on the buttocks as he fought for his life until he was rescued.
Mujuni Ananius, the Nyabaremura LC1 Chairperson, confirmed the incident, saying that three people have been injured by wildlife since last month, including two others from the neighboring Nombe cell.
Mujuni expressed concern because the boy found no drugs available at Rubuguri Health Centre IV. He also revealed that the community is now at risk of losing lives due to escalating baboon attacks in Rubuguri town council, but he noted that efforts to eliminate the threat have commenced.
The warden of the Rushaga Sector of Bwindi park, Ronald Tindyebwa, stated that he has not yet received an official report about the incident, despite seeing photos of the victim on social media. He declined to comment on the security threat of animals posed to communities living along Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at this time.
