Police in Kampala are holding in their cells three suspects on allegations of unlawful dealing in protected species particularly ivory.
SP Patrick Onyango, the Spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan Police has confirmed arrest.
Suspects have been identified as Akello Agnes’s Ojok, Derrick Ssejjombwe and Sulaiman Ssegawa. These according to Onyango were trapped and arrested at KK Gardens in Bweyogerere Kira Municipality Wakiso district in possession of Ivory valued at Ugx 30millions.
According to Onyango, the trio were arrested after a tip off to Intelligence by Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN) an NGO dealing in wildlife conservations which learned about three people selling elephant tusks.
NRCN didn’t hesitate to tip off police after which laid a trap for the suspects whose forty days ended today.
SP Onyango said that police obtained a statement from the suspects and are currently detained at Central Police Station (CPS) Kampala on charges of unlawful possession of protected species contrary to sections 36 (1) and 71 (1) (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Authority Act, 2019.
He applauded NRCN for vigilance and efforts in fighting against crimes related to wildlife appealing to the members of the public not to deal in illegal wildlife products.
Elephants are among the most wildlife animals in Uganda and world over affected by poachers who trek and kill them for their tusks. The act is deemed illegal according to laws governing wildlife.
Nevertheless, a bigger number of people including international tourists have been severely arrested dealing in illegal possession of ivory despite UWA calls to cconserve the wild life.
