The Acting Chief Magistrate Kyenjojo Her Worship Nambozo Joy on June 30, 2021 sentenced Habimana Sabanitah and Sobomaana Augustine residents of Rwamwanja refugee settlement in Kamwenge district to 4 years in jail for illegal entry into a protected area and 12 years in jail for killing a wildlife protected species.
The two were arrested on 28th June, 2021 by Uganda Wildlife Authority personnel inside Katonga Wildlife Reserve. They were found in possession of dead bush buck, 02 pangas, 02 sharp spears and 08 wire snares that were used to kill the animal.
Upon arrest, the suspects were transferred to Kyegegwa police station and later produced before the Chief Magistrate court of Kyejonjo to take plea. The accused pleaded guilty to the counts as charged of illegal entry and killing a protected wildlife species.
Prosecution led by Latif Amis argued that the two deprived the wider public and national economy the benefits of conservation including tourism, employment and foreign exchange earnings. He noted that court needed to send a clear signal to the public to desist from such criminal acts especially now that tourism is seriously hit by the corona virus pandemic and that poaching doubles the jeopardy.
The Chief Magistrate conformed with the prayers of state citing that tourism plays a key role in Uganda’s economy. She sentenced the convicts to a fine of 100 currency points (UGX 2,000,000) or serve 4 years in jail for illegal entry and 10,000 currency points (UGX 200,000,000) or serve 12 years in jail for killing a protected wildlife species.
The sentences will run concurrently. Illegal hunting for bush meat and poaching for ivory are some of the crimes that Uganda is grappling with today. In most cases, the wildlife trafficking supply chain starts around rural communities near wildlife habitats from where it feeds into the urban centres on its way out of the country
Poaching remains one of the major constraints and set back of the blossoming tourism in Uganda especially due to the primitive and challenging lockdowns that have left park neighbouring communities will less food options.
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