Poachers Shot Dead in Kasese

New Vision
February 11, 2003

John Nzinjah
Kampala

TWO people were shot dead and another injured following a poaching attempt in Longoma area of Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP) in Kyarumba sub-county.

The incident took place over the weekend.

Kasese Police CID chief Joseph Kato said on Tuesday he had not received any information about the incident.

Kyarumba sub-county chairman Yokonia Mbahimba named the victims as Baluku Kayanda and Masereka Iberegha both armed vigilantees from Kabingo village in Kyarumba sub-county.

Mbahimba, who visited the scene said the third victim who was injured is a game ranger in the RMNP.

Kabingo village chairman Doviko Kyakora said a group of people had gone poaching in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Baluku Kayanda an armed vigilante, was suspected to be a member of the group and was shot dead by a game ranger.

Kyakora told The New Vision that on the following day another vigilante, Masereka Iberegha, suspected to have been a member of the group stealthily went to the scene where her colleague (Baluku Kayanda) was lying dead.

She reportedly had the intention of removing the gun from the dead body.

"As Iberegha struggled with the dead body to remove the gun, the game ranger shot her and she died instantly," Kyakora said.

He said Baluku Kayanda and Masereka Iberegha were buried three days after the incident at Kabingo village in Kyarumba sub-county.

However, Kyakora warned the residents against poaching saying they might meet death in the same way.

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