Suspected poachers caught in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The police in Kasese together with the Queen Elizabeth National Park rangers have arrested five armed poachers in the park after shooting two hippos at Rwemihunda near Kazinga channel 14km inside the park.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority officials  said the gun shots have provoked the park rangers and the district deputy CID,Andrew Salube said a 17 armed poachers  entered the park on May 2.The actions of these poachers have been disrupted by the gut shots that have killed two hippos  that informed the park officials who called the police for assistance.

The suspected poachers have been caught at Kinyamaseke trading centre while on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo where they sell their meat. The suspects include Deo Kyenge, Mbusa Musisi, Charles Bwambale, Lawrence Thembo and Peregerino Bwambale.these poachers have said seven of them have remained in the park and five have escaped after thinking there might be danger.

The suspected poachers have told the police that they have been killing animals in the park and they leave the guns in the park. Inside the car the poachers had been travelling in, ribs and two hooves of a hippo have been recovered.

The poachers have been charged with illegal entry in the park, poaching and illegal killing of wild species.

Poaching  has increased in DRC ,Rwanda and Uganda and these countries have introduced   joint patrols after  the death of a gorilla between Sabyinyo and Visoke volcanoes  a  region where  poaching has constantly existed.49 gorilla traps have been discovered by the joint patrols managed by the Greater Virunga Trans-boundary Collaboration.

8 hippo and buffalo traps and five elephant traps. Law on poaching has remained poor especially in Uganda whereby the punishment ranges from two years in jail and 1m fine.

UGANDA SAFARI NEWS