A fisherman has been killed and another sustained severe injuries after their fishing boat was hit by the giant Hippopotamus on Lake Victoria in Mayuge district.

This incident happened in the wee hours of the morning of Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Walumbe landing site in Bukatube Sub County, Mayuge district.

The deceased has been identified as Mustafa Okot, aged 38, and the survivor as John Kasule, aged 26, both residents of Walumbe village.

Kasule said the incident occurred while they were still on the water when a giant hippopotamus hit their fishing boat and overturned it before grabbing his friend.

He added that he was able to swim to the lake shores and survived death.

“The hippopotamus only struck our fishing boat once, causing it to capsize and submerge; however, as we were swimming, Musatafa was grabbed by the mammal, resulting in his death instantly,” said Kasule.

William Atube, the LCIII Chairperson of Bakatube Sub County, urged the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to intervene and rescue local residents from the mammals.

Atube added that even the gardens of the locals have been destroyed by the hippopotamus, leaving them with no food.

‘’We need these mammals to be captured by UWA and taken away from our village because most economic activities like agriculture and fishing have been put on hold due to fear of being attacked and killed by these mammals,’’ Atube revealed.

The hippopotamus is one of the fiercest animals in the world and the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos. Their name comes from the Greek word for “river horse,” because they’re often found in water.