The operations conducted in Hoima, Mubende, Kiboga, Masindi, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Kakumiro and Kasanda district also led to the recovery of 11 guns and over 50 bullets.
At least nine people have been arrested in joint operations conducted by Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF, Uganda Police Force- UPF and Uganda Wildlife Authority –UWA.
The operations conducted in Hoima, Mubende, Kiboga, Masindi, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Kakumiro and Kasanda district also led to the recovery of 11 guns and over 50 bullets.
Bashir Hangi, the UWA spokesperson, said the operation was in response to the armed poachers that killed a UWA informer, Edward Ssekyanzi, during a fire exchange at Mankiti village, Kalwana Sub County, Kasanda District about four months ago.
Hangi says that the attackers after killing Ssekandi, took his body. This prompted crime intelligence, UPDF, UWA and police to draft strategies on how they were to confront armed thugs also referred to as illegal poachers.
Security agencies first established the identity of the leaders, his bases which were also the transaction centre for ivory and other illegally obtained wildlife products. Informers established that the group was being spearheaded by, Samuel Kibuuka, deputized by Ssenkusu Badru, Ndayisenga and Sserunkuma.
Security team arrested Kibuuka who led security forces to his father’s home, Livingstone Kabuuza, where two guns and three bullets were recovered. This was followed with the arrest of Hannington Kiyingi where another gun was recovered.
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Kibuuka also led the joint security team to Masindi district where another gun was recovered with nine bullets. At the time, the gun was in possession of Katusabe Deo, who was also arrested.
According to Hangi, Sserunkuuma, Ndayisenga, Kibuuka and Katusabe also revealed other places of their operations and illegal poaching in Hoima district. Crime intelligence arrested, Kasoka Muhammad, with a gun and two bullets.
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In the operations, UWA, police, crime intelligence and UPDF traced the remains of Ssekyanzi which had been secretly buried in a forest.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said Ssekyanzi was killed because security agencies had not yet known that the group as armed. Enanga said the suspects will also be charged with the murder of Ssekyanzi.
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Other suspects include Mulwana who was arrested with three guns and 19 bullets, Kasizi Asanasio a son to Mulwana who had a pistol and four bullets, Kaizi Asanasio and Binakamanyire William.
Story by Kato Joseph
