Residents living along the shores of Lake George in Lake George Sub-county and Bukurungu Town Council, Kitagwenda District, have appealed to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to take urgent action following persistent crocodile attacks that have disrupted livelihoods and raised safety concerns among communities.
The concerns were raised during a recent community engagement meeting attended by residents, local leaders and officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Residents told the meeting that crocodile attacks have become increasingly common, particularly among fishing communities that depend on Lake George for their livelihoods. They said the attacks have claimed several lives over the past two years, forcing many people to live and work in fear.
“We are living in constant uncertainty because crocodile attacks have become frequent. Fishing is our main source of income, but every time people go onto the lake, they are unsure whether they will return safely. We appeal to UWA to act before more families are affected,” one resident said.
Kitagwenda County Member of Parliament Robert Mugabe urged the Uganda Wildlife Authority to expedite measures to remove crocodiles from sections of Lake George where communities have reported repeated attacks.
“The safety of our people must come first. These communities depend on the lake for survival, and it is the responsibility of the Uganda Wildlife Authority to ensure that residents can carry out their activities without facing such dangers. I urge UWA to move quickly and remove the crocodiles from these areas,” Mugabe said.
Responding to the concerns, Mike Birungi, the Assistant Human-Wildlife Conflict Officer for the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area, acknowledged receiving reports about the attacks and assured residents that the authority was preparing an intervention.
“We have received reports regarding crocodile attacks in the affected communities around Lake George. Our technical team is making the necessary preparations, and we shall soon deploy officers to capture and relocate the crocodiles posing a threat to residents,” Birungi said.
He said the planned operation is aimed at improving safety among communities living and fishing along the lake while promoting peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.
“We ask residents to remain vigilant and continue reporting any incidents to local authorities or UWA offices as we prepare to carry out the relocation exercise,” Birungi added.
The residents have welcomed the planned intervention, saying urgent action will help restore confidence among fishing communities that rely on Lake George for their livelihoods.
