I guess the anti-poaching efforts are becoming too successful

Kasese MPs Protest Killing of Poachers
The Monitor (Kampala)
March 21, 2003

Kennedy Lule
Kampala

Members of Parliament from Kasese have protested the killing of 350 suspected poachers in Rwenzori and Queen Elizabeth national parks.

Ms Loice Bwambale, the chairwoman of Kasese MPs, wrote on Tuesday to the parliament committee on Trade and Industry asking the MPs to investigate the killings.

Mr Christopher Kibanzanga (Busongora South MP) on Wednesday told the committee that Parliament should ask the government to stop the killings immediately.

"Our people are tricked by undisciplined LDUs [Local Defence Unit personnel], UPDF soldiers and some game rangers who supply them with guns to enter the parks and be killed there," Mr Kibanzanga said.

Ms Bwambale alleged that the game wardens put rewards of between Shs 50,000 to Shs 250,000 on each poacher's head.

Ms Bwambale was reacting to The Monitor story of 17 March, which said 350 poachers have been killed in two years. The MPs said they do not condone poaching but said poachers should be arrested and prosecuted.

"Game rangers are supposed to disable poachers from fleeing by shooting them in the legs but not to kill them," Mr Kibanzanga said.

But Mr Peter Mutuluza (Mawokota North) and Mr Mutebi Kityo (Mawokota South) defended the killings, saying the game rangers sometimes act in self-defence.

Mr Kibanzanga rejected his colleagues' explanation and said rangers are trained to easily disarm poachers without killing them.

The Committee Chairman Mr Zachary Olum (Nwoya MP) said he has also received reports about killings in the Murchison Falls National Park.

The committee plans to summon Minister of Tourism Jovino Akaki and officials from Uganda Wildlife Authority in two weeks time.

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