Ugandan official arrested with ivory worth Kshs.3M in Busia (Kenya)
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
May 11, 2021
See link
https://www.kbc.co.ke/ugandan-official-arrested-with-ivory-worth-kshs-3m-in-busia/
for photos.
Police in Busia have arrested a Senior Security Officer from Uganda in
possession of three pieces of animal trophies worth Kshs 3 million street
value.
Kennedy Wabwire, was arrested on Friday at around 2.00 pm through a tip off
from members of the public. “We got information that some Ugandan Nationals
were on a mission to traffic ivory into Kenya with the aim of selling,”
said Busia DCIO, Benard Wamalwa.
Wamalwa said that police officers liaised with the informer and lured the
suspects that the buyer was waiting for the items at one of the Mosques in
Busia town.
“The suspects arrived in two motorbikes and we managed to arrest one as the
other one fled,” he said, adding that the arrested suspect is a lieutenant
working in the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UBDF) in Uganda.
He stated that the suspect has been taken to court and will be charged with
being in possession of wildlife trophies contrary to Section 95 of the
Wildlife Conservation Management Act of 2013.
Efforts are still underway to arrest the other culprits who escaped on
another motorcycle with a sack of ivory,” he said, adding that the suspect
disclosed that they used the Mariachi route to access the Mosque.
The officer further said that the boda boda rider who was carrying the
suspects has also been arrested and has recorded statements with the police
as a witness.
Wamalwa urged the local residents to report suspected people dealing in the
any illegal activity, adding trade in ivory was affecting both Kenya and
Uganda negatively through loss of revenue that could be gotten from tourism.
“If we fail to report such cases, we will not only lose elephants but also
other animals,” he said, adding that security officers cannot succeed
without collaboration from the local residents.
The official who addressed the press in his office expressed concern that
trade in ivory was becoming rampant at the border, stating that this is the
third incident.
https://www.kbc.co.ke/ugandan-official-arrested-with-ivory-worth-kshs-3m-in-busia/