CROCODILE KILLS ONE IN PAKWACH, RELATIVES DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION FROM UWA

ALFRED JAWOKO

PAKWACH: Residents of Ayila village, Mukale Parish in Pakwach Sub County, Pakwach district are demanding compensation from Uganda Wild Life Authority over the death of one of their village members.

Vincent Orombi 35, resident of Ayila Village was killed by a stray Crocodile in the wee hours of Monday morning as he went to cut papyrus along Albert Nile. Part of his body was recovered two days after the incident.

According to one of the family members, Sizario Openja, they want UWA to compensate and take charge of all burial expenses of the deceased.

“As a family we have followed all procedures to claim the compensation but UWA is paying death ears to their cries,” Openja revealed.

Pakwach sub county chairperson Chephas Anyayo Gwoktho urged the affected family to use legal means to claim compensation from Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA.

He expressed worry over rampant raids by stray wild Animals from Murchison Falls National park to people’s homes and gardens.

He appealed to the residents to abandon the landing site where the crocodiles are attacking people.

When contacted, Wilson Kagoro, the Community conservation warden Murchison Falls National park, confirmed the incident and said that government is ready to compensate the family of the victim though it will take some time.

“It’s very unfortunate that the person was devoured by the crocodile, we request the family to provide UWA with the death certificate, a postmortem report, pictures of the grave, the national ID, what he was earning before. He said.