Govt condemns poisoning of wild animals in national park

Jul 29, 2007

THE Government has condemned the poisoning of wild animals in Queen Elizabeth National park. <i>The New Vision</i> last week reported that over 80% of the hyenas and all leopards around Nyamugasani River had been poisoned, while at least 11 lions had been killed in the last 15 months.

By Benard Masereka
in Kisinga


THE Government has condemned the poisoning of wild animals in Queen Elizabeth National park.

‘I have been told that nine lions and some hyenas have been killed. I was shocked when I saw the carcass of one of the hyenas in The New Vision,” state minister for tourism, Serapio Rukundo, said in Kasese on Saturday.

The New Vision last week reported that over 80% of the hyenas and all leopards around Nyamugasani River had been poisoned, while at least 11 lions had been killed in the last 15 months.

Speaking as chief guest during the ordination of two Catholic priests and two deacons at St. John’s Minor Seminary, Kiburara, Rukundo described tourism as the leading foreign exchange earner, bringing in about sh8b annually.

Queen Elizabeth National Park fetches the country more money than any other park in Uganda, he revealed. He noted that those destroying the parks were economic saboteurs.

Rukundo said the continued encroachment on the park by the Basongora pastoralists was a major threat to both the flora and fauna of the park.

He asked the people of Kasese to support the Government in its efforts to relocate the Basongora from the park.
The defence minister, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, said the issue of the Basongora staying in the park should not be tribalised.

He said the problem was the fundamental need for land in the district. The Government needs to cater for both the cultivators and pastoralists, he added.

The ordained priests were Patrick Mayani and David Kitsa, while Onesmas Bwambale was ordained deacon.

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