Residents of Aarapoo in Serere District, Uganda, are gripped by terror following a deadly encounter with a Nile crocodile that claimed the life of Stella Beatrice Kokoi, a 48-year-old mother, on June 4th. The attack occurred at the local landing site where Kokoi routinely fished to support her 15 children, highlighting the perilous realities faced by communities dependent on water bodies for survival.
Tragedy on the Waterfront
According to eyewitnesses, Kokoi was abruptly dragged beneath the murky waters while casting her nets. Solomon Engemu, Ikaribwo clan chairperson, recounted receiving the urgent call during an evening news broadcast. "I raced to the scene with neighbors," he stated. "We combed the shoreline until midnight in small boats but found nothing."
Paul Ilukor, Officer-in-Charge of Labor Police Post, coordinated a three-day search involving local fishermen and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) specialists. "We deployed drones on Saturday," Ilukor explained. "Authorities theorized the reptile might be guarding its kill, advising reduced noise near the swamp." The grim discovery came Sunday afternoon when distressed sounds from a papyrus grove led villagers to Kokoi's partially consumed remains.
A Community in Crisis
The victim's mutilated body was identified near the attack site, deepening trauma in Aarapoo. Ilukor emphasized the unprecedented nature of the incident: "While we've had wildlife encounters before, this is our first fatal crocodile assault. She supported 15 children – the loss devastates us all."
Panic now permeates the district, with locals branding the reptile a "man-eater" likely to strike again. "Human flesh could become its preferred prey," Ilukor warned, urging immediate government intervention. Residents have been cautioned to avoid the landing area after dark as UWA assesses capture strategies.
Broader Implications
This tragedy underscores escalating human-wildlife conflicts in Uganda’s lake regions, where economic necessity forces vulnerable populations into predator habitats. Despite community pleas, UWA officials remained unreachable for comment at press time, fueling frustration over delayed responses to such emergencies.
Environmental analysts stress that proactive measures – including predator monitoring systems and alternative livelihood programs – are critical for at-risk communities. As Serere mourns, Kokoi’s death ignites urgent conversations about balancing conservation priorities with human safety along Uganda’s vital waterways.
"We appeal to UWA to trap this animal before more lives are lost. Fear stalks our shores daily,"
Ilukor declared, capturing the collective anxiety now haunting Labor Sub-county’s waterside settlements.
