3 Killed In Elgon Park Fire Exchange

By Jonathan Angura THREE people were killed in a gunfire exchange between the UPDF soldiers and encroachers on Mt.Elgon National Park. The dead included a UPDF soldier identified only as Pte. Tadeo attached to Kapkwata forest guard unit in Kapchorwa district, who was killed by the encroachers, and two unidentified encroachers of the forest killed by the soldiers. Kapchorwa deputy RDC. Michael Bwalatum, said two SMG guns and 26 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the encroachers. He said the fight erupted when the soldiers went on a routine patrol at the Park Forest in Kapkwata on Saturday. “They met two encroachers and exchanged gunfire killing one soldier, but they were also killed and two unregistered guns in their possession, were recovered,” Bwalatum said. Following the incident, Bwalatum held meetings with the local leaders and elders in the area and advised them to ask the people to vacate the park. He said some of the local leaders encouraged people to go against the law by encroaching on the park land. Ends