'Tortoise smugglers' to appear in court

PIC: Abdul Kyabalongo (middle) and Ali Ssemambo (right) were remanded to prison last week after being charged by the Anti corruption court. They return to court on Tuesday. (Credit: Tony Rujuta)

KAMPALA - Two men arrested last week in connection with smuggled tortoises are due to appear in court on Tuesday for the hearing of their bail application.

Abdul Kyabalongo and Ali Ssemambo were remanded to Luzira prison after appearing before Grade 1 Magistrate Peter Lochomia.

The magistrate rejected their attempts to secure bail, arguing that the sureties they presented in court were not substantial.

"The documents provided by sureties indicating their place of residence are not substantial so the state will find difficulty in tracing them," Lochomia ruled as he adjourned the case.

The two suspects will now appear before the Anti-corruption Court.

They are charged with three counts. They are:

Acquisition and carrying coastwise of restricted good contrary to section 200 (a) of the East African Community Customs Management Act".

"attempting to export without a valid permit contrary to Section 66 and 75 of the Wild Life Act Caption 20."

"utilization of wildlife without a wildlife use right contrary to section 30 and 74 of the wild life act caption 200.

The suspects, and others still at large, are said to have illegally smuggled 153 live tortoises.

They were arrested by enforcement officers of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) as they attempted to smuggle the animals - wrapped in a sack - out of the country using a public taxi.

A tipoff from the public about the tortoises' transit route and time enabled URA to intercept them.

URA later handed over the tortoises to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.