Five suspected poachers arrested
Uganda Wildlife Authority law enforcement officer Joshua Masereka (L) tests a recovered ivory at Kasese Central Police Station as the officer in charge of criminal investigations department, Mr Joseph Andama, looks on. PHOTO BY ENID NINSIIMA
Rukungiri.
Police in Rukungiri District are holding five people, including a woman, for illegally entering Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The arrests followed a tip-off by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials recently. They come from Rwebinyonyi village, Bwambala Sub-county in the district.
Police said the five were spotted by UWA officials who were carrying out routine surveillance using a plane. They were sighted at River Kageezi deep in the park carrying out illegal fishing.
The officer in charge of criminal investigations department Rukungiri, Mr Michael Ogwal, said on Wednesday that UWA officials notified police which then arrested the group. They were found in possession of 13 fishing nets and 120 immature fish and 32 kilogrammes of salt.
The suspects were first detained at Kihiihi Police Station in Kanungu District and later transferred to Rukungiri. Mr Ogwal warned the residents against entering the park illegally. He said four people who went to the park to carry out fishing on Lake Edward on October 16 last year have never been seen again.
