“He’s My Son”: Ugandan Woman Claims She Gave Birth to a Python—and Refuses to Let Him Go
In the quiet village of Nakawuka, in Uganda’s Wakiso District, a story is unfolding that’s as unbelievable as it is heart-wrenching.
Nalongo Barbara Nvannungi, a local woman and mother, has become the center of attention after refusing to hand over a python she claims she gave birth to in 2008. Yes, you read that right—she believes the snake is her biological child.
While wildlife officials and local residents express growing concern about the presence of the snake, Nalongo remains firm: “He is my son, and they can’t take him away from me.”
A Mother and Her “Child”
According to Nalongo, the python isn’t just a pet—it’s her flesh and blood. She says she gave birth to the reptile shortly after her husband, Salongo Patrick Lubega, passed away in 2007.
“I was pregnant when my husband died,” she told Uganda’s Bukedde TV.
“When I went into labor, I didn’t make it to the hospital. I gave birth in a garden, with only my sister by my side.”
Nalongo claims she gave birth to two children that day—one human daughter, and the other… a snake.
“I Built Him a House, I Feed Him Eggs and Chicken”
Far from treating the python like an animal, Nalongo says she’s raising him like any mother would raise her child.
She feeds the snake over 40 eggs a day, plus a chicken every two days. She’s even constructed a small house for him on her property. And yes, she lovingly strokes his scaly body, calling him her “son.”
“He needs special care. I’m the only one who understands him. He’s not dangerous. He won’t harm anyone,” she insists.
But despite her confidence, villagers are worried.
⚠️ A Village on Edge
Concerned about safety, local residents recently contacted the Uganda Reptile Village in Entebbe, urging them to come and take the python away.
Their fear is understandable. Pythons are large, powerful constrictors—and in a rural area, one roaming freely could be dangerous.
Still, Nalongo is fighting back.
“I can’t visit my child in a zoo, like he’s an animal,” she says. “He’s a human being to me.”
♀️ A Lonely Life
Since her husband’s death, Nalongo says no man has wanted to be with her. She believes it’s because they’re afraid she might “give birth to another snake.”
“They fear me,” she said. “But I’m not crazy. I’m a mother.”
She also claims that her relatives have abandoned her, leaving the python as her only companion.
What Do Experts Say?
Naturally, medical professionals have weighed in—and they’re not buying it.
Dr. Joseph Wasswa Ssenkubuge told Bukedde TV that it is biologically impossible for a human to give birth to a snake.
“This could be a mental health condition,” he suggested, “or a tactic to gain attention and possibly money from curious onlookers.”
Still, Nvannungi insists her story is true—and that only her sister, who was with her during the delivery, can verify what happened that day.
Final Thoughts: Delusion, Belief, or Something Deeper?
Is this a case of trauma-induced delusion? A unique coping mechanism after grief? Or simply a bizarre tale gone viral?
Whatever the truth may be, Nalongo Barbara Nvannungi’s story has stirred an emotional and ethical debate. Where does the line fall between mental health support, public safety, and personal rights?
And most of all, what happens when one person’s version of reality collides with the rest of society?
One thing is certain: for Nalongo, this isn’t just a snake—it’s her son. And she’s not letting go.
