Army launches war on poaching

2003-09-25 12:42

Kampala - The armed forces have joined forces with the courts to fight poaching in Uganda's national parks after an army officer was court-martialled for killing seven elephants, officials said on Wednesday.

"We have embarked on a programme involving all security agencies such as the police and the army in this fight as well as the judiciary to have the laws on wildlife crimes reviewed and strengthened," Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesperson Barbara Musoke said.

"As a result, a military court sentenced Second Lieutenant Emmy Kisembo Lukwago to 18 months in jail last weekend and ordered his dismissal for killing seven elephants in Murchison Falls National Park on March 24," Musoke said.

Lieutenant Paddy Ankunda confirmed the sentence passed on the officer for killing the animals for their tusks after seven elephant carcasses, including one calf, were found near the banks of River Tangi-Jai, which runs through the park.

"The officer was detailed to protect the animals, but turned into a poacher and masterminded the killing of the animals," Ankunda said, without naming the officer involved.

"The act jeopardised the tourism industry, and the sentence and his dismissal from the army will work as a deterrent to others," Ankunda added.

Musoke said the wildlife authority was working to educate local people about the need to protect the animals in the national parks. A number of proposals have also been made to reform laws on wildlife crimes that were enacted in the 1960s.

Uganda has an estimated 3 000 elephants that are just recovering after poachers reduced their numbers from 6 885 in 1971, when Idi Amin seized power, to 1 607 by 1976.

- AFP