Amuru Grade I Magistrate’s court has ordered seven poachers to pay a total of 10 million shillings after convicting them of three offences that contravene the wildlife act.
Prosecution led by Patrick Akoko, told court that on August 16, this year, the suspects without authorization entered into Murchison Falls National Park through the Delta Park Conservation area contrary to section 22 (I) and 74 of the wildlife act of 2000.
Akoko also told court the poachers were found in possession of devices which are capable of injuring or killing protected wildlife species in contravention of section 49 (i) and 74 of the wildlife species.
The third charge was killing a protected wildlife species contrary to section 21 (a) and 75 (a) of the wildlife act cap 200 of 2000.
The suspects are; Ambronzio Odong, 54, Etyen Ugen, 28, Moses Pirwoth, 20, and Joseph Cankuma, all residents of Pakwach in Nebbi district.
Others are; Wakunga, 21, Dauglas Onegiu, 18, and Moses Omoe, 18.
They were found in possession of 3 canoes, 3 fishnets, 6 oars and 1 knife.
They all pleaded guilty to the charge before Joseph Angole, the Amuru Grade I Magistrate.
Angole ordered each of them to pay a fine of 1.2 million shillings totaling to 7.2 million shillings or face a 12-month- jail term.
Meanwhile Thomas Okello, 32, a resident of Lolim village, Got Apwoyo Sub County in Nwoya district who also appeared before the same court was fined 2.8 Million shillings or face a 2-year-jail term.
Okello was found in possession of 4 spears, 1 wheel trap, 1 knife and carcass of Uganda Kob.
Court heard that Okello and four others still at large entered through the areas of River Namnuda, inside Murchision Falls National Park and killed two Uganda Kobs after trapping the animals with a snare.
Okello was arrested by Wildlife Rangers who were on patrol and to Anaka Police Post.
The wildlife meat was produced as evidence against Okello who was convicted on his own plea of guilt.
Along with the crested crane, Uganda Kob is considered a very important symbol of Uganda.
Wildlife Act 74 Section 30 Chapter 200 of 2000 prohibits the act of killing and being in possession of game meat.
Since the beginning of this year, at least 20 poachers have been convicted for illegal hunting inside the national game park.
Wild meat is a delicacy in communities around the park and in northern Uganda.
Tom Okello Obong, the Area Conservation Manager, Murchison Falls National Park blamed the rampant illegal killings of wild animals on the rising in the demand of game meat which is treated as a delicacy in major towns such as Gulu, Amuru, Masindi and Nwoya.
At least seven poachers have been killed by either wild animals or were found dead under unclear circumstances inside Murchison Falls National Game Park this year alone.
2 Comments
Please correct me, but in the 50s and 60s, residents adjacent to the game park were allowed limited hunting rights as part of the agreement to establish the Game Park (I am sure someone has Peter Labar Oola papers or to that effect). After all it was argued that the game park was established in a previously occupied tribal land and traditional hunting ground. I ask if Paraa, pa Kuba etc are not indication of people having previously occupied such areas in order to name such places?
It is our Acoliland, we are hunters. These people have been in camps, how are they supposed to return to normal lifestyles if everything is court and fines on their own lands. There must be areas where people can and should hunt to keep the culture and the knowledge alive. People have to eat to live, it is better than robbery.