Poachers sentenced to five years in prison
Sep 30, 2019
They were charged with being in possession of a protected wildlife specimen which is contrary to section 75B of Uganda Wildlife Act (UWA) 200/2000.”
Five men were arrested with bushmeat in transit on a boat in Murchison Falls National Park. The suspects have been sentenced to five years in prison.
They include Ronnie Okuni, Richard Owacigiu, Bosco Lakari, Patrick Chekican, and Michael Abedi.
"The men were got with the carcass of a Rothschild giraffe on the boat rowing their way home," said the prosecutor Charles Okeny.
"A court file CRB 598/219 was opened and the case was heard in Gulu court. They were charged with being in possession of a protected wildlife specimen which is contrary to section 75B of Uganda Wildlife Act (UWA) 200/2000."
In the past, it has been antelopes, buffalos, and bushbucks that were commonly targeted said Okeny.
"According to chief magistrate Dawa Matenyaa their offense was entering a wildlife protected area without permission which is contrary to section 75 of UWA200/2000, asserted Okeny.
"This was in addition to another offense of being in possession of a device capable of wounding/injuring protected species which is contrary to section 49 of UWA200/2000."