We join the rest of the world to celebrate World Gorilla Day. We commend African countries that house the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas. In a special way, we appreciate Uganda for all the efforts made to protect more than half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas.

We are so proud of this accomplishment. It was made possible by Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS). Knowledge of the law saves lives of animals and the people. We are securing the future for animals.

The Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court has today sentenced two men to 7 years imprisonment for four offences of entering into a wildlife protected area without authority, hunting wildlife in a wildlife protected area and killing wild animals in a wildlife protected area. The two were also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of protected species.

Tumuhirwe Vincent and Ariyo Robert between 17th and 19th March, 2021 entered in Queen Elizabeth National Park and poisoned six tree climbing lions. 10 vultures were also found dead after consuming the same poison. The two men cut off the heads and paws of the lions and took them with them. The incident came about after 2 years after the poisoning of 11 lions in the same National Park. Killers of the 11 lions have not been apprehended up to now.

We welcome the sentence and hope that it will send a strong warning to all other offenders.