KAMPALA – Uganda’s Parliament has directed the government to compensate a family after a baboon snatched their 4-month-old child, who was later found dead in a forest.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa issued the directive to the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities during a plenary session on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025.
He said children in Kagadi District are no longer attending school and parents are missing work in an effort to protect their children from wild animals.
“People say they have been reporting these incidents to the authorities, but no action has been taken. This is a big problem in Kagadi and other areas where there is human-wildlife conflict,” Tayebwa said.
Parliament urged the ministry to find lasting solutions to protect communities in the district and other parts of the country from animal attacks. It also demanded the ministry present a comprehensive statement to Parliament detailing the action taken on the matter.
Ntoroko County MP Ibanda Rwemulikya noted that communities living near game parks and forest reserves face similar challenges, citing conflict near Semuliki National Park.
“In Kanara Town Council, we have a number of cases where children were snatched and injured by baboons. Parents are footing expensive medical bills, and there is no compensation for them,” Rwemulikya said.
He called for a nationwide investigation into such incidents in areas where communities live close to wildlife and reiterated the need for adequate action from the ministry.
Richard Wanda (NRM, Bungokho Central County) cited incidents of harassment by staff of the Uganda Wildlife Authority against communities in the Elgon region.
“They harass locals over boundaries, and sometimes lives have been lost because these staff shoot people and destroy property, including buildings and crops. The minister should develop an action plan to address the challenges of wildlife management,” Wanda said.
