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Uganda: 600 Poachers Surrender to UWA in Kasese District

The Monitor (Kampala)
March 16, 2006
Michael Karugaba
Kasese

At least 600 poachers in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda are said to have surrendered their weapons to the Uganda Wildlife Authority at Mweya in Kasese district, UWA officials here have said.

Speaking during the hand over of weapons by 349 poachers from Muhokya sub-county at Mweya Education Centre on Sunday, the Chief Park Warden, Mr Tom Okello, said the first group of 250 poachers from Muhindi village in Munkunyu sub-county, surrendered to UWA authorities on November 11 last year.

Okello said this followed intensified sensitisation of the community about the advantages of conserving the environment and the disadvantages of poaching.

He said the biggest challenge they were facing is poaching and called upon the general public to assist them to combat the problem.

"As UWA, we want to work with the community for sustainable management of the park," Okello said.

The District Environment Officer, Mr Asa Kule, urged the former poachers to start engaging in other business to improve their lives.

He called on residents to change their cultural beliefs if they are to stop the act.

He was referring to the Banyaruguru community in Bushenyi district, who believe that unless a woman eats meat of a hippo, she can never conceive.