The Territorial Police in KMP North and Kiteezi has finalised plans of arraigning in court, 4 suspects who were found in unlawful possession of wild species of 15 marabou storks. The 4 suspects who include; Masika Herbert, Mwinguzi Dick, Kato Dickson, and Tumukunde Peter, were arrested on the 1.06.2023, at around 6pm, from Lusanja zone, Kiteezi parish, in Kasangati town council. They are to be charged in the Utility Court, with 15 counts of being un unlawful possession of protected species C/s 36(1) and 71(1) (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Act, 2019. Efforts are now in place to trace for the ring leader called Innocent Banaras of Congolese origin. We have established that the wild birds were being captured and sold to Congolese buyers at a profit. The arrest will serve as a deterrent and help widen public awareness that 15 poaching and illegal trade of species are a punishable crime.
We strongly condemn the illicit movement of wild species. Together with our partners of UWA, the border committees, customs, we will continue to fight these cruel crimes on wildlife, to ensure fear for the crimes and also promote a safer environment for wildlife.
The arrest will serve as a deterrent and help widen public awareness that 15 poaching and illegal trade of species are a punishable crime.
We would further like to thank the community in Lusanja, for their vigilance as well as our territorial teams and border units, for their role in preventing wildlife trafficking.
SCP Enanga Fred
Police Spokesperson
5th June 2023
