Ivory scam: MPs want UWA boss interdicted

Kampala. Members of Parliament yesterday called for the interdiction of Uganda Wildlife Authority executive director to pave way for investigations into the loss of 1,335 kilogrammes of ivory.
Rising on a matter of national importance, Bufumbira MP Eddie Kwizera said it would be catastrophic for Dr Andrew Seguya to stay in office as investigations into the loss of the elephant tusks are being carried out.
“If we are to have a fair investigation as the President has instructed, the executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority has to be interdicted,” he said.
Last week, news broke in local media about how 1,335 kilogrammes of ivory mysteriously disappeared from UWA’s vaults. The wildlife body acknowledged the disappearance of ivory and the President promptly ordered an investigation into the matter.
The authority subsequently suspended five top officials, including the chief ranger, officers with access to the vaults and intelligence personnel at the agency. Mr Kwizera is worried that leaving Dr Seguya in place as the accounting officer at UWA will jeopardise the investigation.
He asked the junior minister for Tourism, Ms Agnes Akiror: “Why don’t you ask the boss to interdict the executive director so that the investigations that the President instituted take place without any influence?”
“On the issue of the executive director, we have a meeting and by next week, we shall communicate to the House what we would have done because at this time, it would be premature to explain what we would have done,” Ms Akiror said.
Meanwhile, members also raised complaints about stray wild animals, including elephants that cut loose from game parks and terrorise locals. They called for an appropriate response from the minister explaining what is being done about the situation.
Ms Akiror said the issues are “being handled.”

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