The Amuru Grade One Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr David Okot has ordered a poacher to pay Shs3.9 Million or face a two-year jail term.
Mr Denis Opio Oola was charged with illegal entry into a protected area without authority, bringing devices capable of capturing, injuring or killing wildlife of protected species, wilfully driving domestic animals into wildlife protected areas, killing wildlife protected species and killing wildlife protected species.
Appearing on Friday for the sentence Oola, 19, was charged five counts after he was arrested inside the Murchison Falls National Park in Purongo Sub County in Nwoya.
Court heard that on August 29, 2015, Oola and five others who are still at large illegally entered in areas of Wangkwar in Tangi area inside the park without authority
Mr Ponsiano Okello, the State Prosecutor told court that Oola was found in possession of four spears, two knives, five bicycles and a hunting dog.
According to the State Prosecution, though his accomplices managed to escape after they entered an ambushed laid by a group of game rangers, Oola was arrested and charged accordingly.
Magistrate Okot found Oola guilty on all the five counts and ordered him to serve 3 months each for the first, second and third count respectively, Shs1.3 Million or 12 month imprisonment for the fourth count and Shs2.6 Million or 24 months in jail for the fifth count.
In his ruling, the Magistrate said the sentences will run concurrently and asked Oola to appeal within 14 days if he is not satisfied with the ruling.
Mr Patrick Okello Oryema, the LCV Chairman Nwoya advised the community against carrying out hunting in the gazetted areas since it puts their lives at a risk.
According to Oryema, “Those who survived arrest by game rangers are likely to get killed by the wild animals.”
At least five poachers were killed by wild animals inside Murchison Falls National Game Park this year alone while dozens were arrested and prosecuted for illegal activities in the park.
