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Man arrested for possessing ivory

By Francis Otucu

The Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters, Kibuli has received file from Ntoroko district containing details of illegal possession of wildlife species.

According to information available, in December 2020, intelligence report emerged that a motor vehicle registration number, UAG 419W (Toyota Premio), silver in colour from Bundibugyo had some pieces of ivory. Upon receipt of the information, the District Police Commander (DPC) tried to put up a check point at Karugutu Trading Centre to intercept it. Unfortunately, the suspect’s vehicle passed before a check point had been mounted. On noticing that the suspect’s vehicle had passed before the check point was made, the police chased it until the suspects realized that they were being followed.
They drove off the main road up to Magunga village in Kabarole district and parked at a home of Moses Kasaijja, where they abandoned the vehicle. The police searched the vehicle and found 4 elephant trunks as well as the photocopy of a driving permit in the name of Kisutu David Kisakye. As the Police was continuing the hunter for the suspect, he appeared at Kabarole Police station on Feb 11, 2021 to claim his vehicle. “Immediately he identified himself, he was arrested and handed over to Ntoroko Police station,” a source familiar with this probe said. But, considering the fact that the cases under the Uganda Wild Life Act are only tried in Kampala at the specialized utility Courts, the file as well as the suspect were transferred to Kampala CID Headquarters. The exhibits have been examined by the experts at Uganda Wild Life Authority and confirmed to be 22kgs of Ivory associated with elephants.
CID spokesman , Charles Twine, confirmed our story.

According to Twine, Uganda Police joined a global effort with other different stakeholders in ensuring that wildlife trade is fought and defeated completely. Every day, he said, housands of wild animals are poached, farmed or sold into global multi-billion dollar trade for food, pets, raw materials, traditional medicine and sometimes for entertainment. “Such horrific conditions cause unimaginable suffering for every single animal involved,” he said.
Twine confirmed that the suspect will be charged before Utility Court at Buganda Road, Kampala with Unlawful Possession of Protected Species Contrary to Section 36(1) &71(1)(b) of Uganda Wild Life Authority Act 2019.

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