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.