Farmer remanded over unlawful possession of ivory

Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court on Tuesday remanded Aaron Asiimwe to Luzira Prison over unlawful possession of protected species contrary to section 2 and 75 (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 200.

Asiimwe, 27, a farmer and a resident of Mubuku II village, Karusandira sub-county in Kasese district was arraigned before Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu.

The prosecution contends that on February 9, 2019, at Kinyamenge village, Item town council in Kasese district, the accused was found in possession of 2.14kgs of ivory.

The prosecution also told the court that the ivory possessed by Asiimwe was valued at approximately sh3.9m.

"What Asiimwe possessed were restricted goods under the Uganda Wildlife Act and an offence under the East African Community Management Act of 2004," state prosecutor Mariam Njuki told the court.

"I was just sent to deliver the ivory to Charles Kizza, by Julius. But the goods were not mine; I was just tempted to do some delivery of which they would, in turn, pay me," Asiimwe informed court.

He further told the court that he had never seen Kizza, from the day of his arrest and he could not know about his whereabouts.

Kamasanyu informed Asiimwe that he had a right to apply for bail.

However, he failed to secure bail since he had no sureties in court and was further remanded until March 14.