3 TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED IN KAMWENGE

Three persons, have been arrested this afternoon by officials from Natural Resource Conservation Network Together with Police in Kamwenge District ,Musinguzi Bernard, Bijebere Peter and Orisigarire Charles were cornered for running a racket to capture and sell parts of endangered species of animals such as Hippos, Pangolins and Python skins.
NRCN officials had received a tipoff recently regarding operation of a racket in the district, which has been engaged in illegal trade of endangered species on a regular basis. Acting on the information, a team of NRCN and Police conducted a raid and arrested the two persons.
The Operatives recovered 52 pieces of Hippo Ivory meaning over 15 Hippopotamus were butchered and 4kgs of Pangolin scales plus 2 long skins of mature pythons, sending nature into jeopardy. The arrested are currently detained at CPS Kamwenge waiting to appear in the courts of law for prosecution to commence and a file bearing a charge of “Illegal possession of wildlife trophies or products has already been opened against the three”
Wildlife is hunted aggressively in Uganda and in neighboring countries which has endangered their populations over time. To issue a permit, the exporting country must determine that this activity will have no detriment to the wild population. Insatiable demand for some wildlife products like ivory and pangolins from East and Southeast Asia (particularly from China and Vietnam) has been the primary factor leading to the demise of their populations.

Petition against Kamwenge MP dismissed

KABAROLE. The High Court in Fort Portal has dismissed an election petition against the Kamwenge Woman MP, Ms Dorothy Azairwe Nshaija.
Court presided over by Justice Elizabeth Kabanda last Friday dismissed the petition filed by Ms Grace Ninsiima against Ms Nshaija for lack of enough evidence.
The petitioner alleged that Nshaija did not sit for Senior Four exams but used Dorothy’Azairwe’s papers.
“The 1st respondent proves she is the one and possesses minimum qualification of S.6 certificate to qualify as a member of parliament and there is no evidence to prove that she is not the one,” Justice Kabanda ruled.
“Having made due inquiry into the petition, I find election of woman MP Kamwenge District was valid and election was conducted according to electoral laws. So I dismiss this petition with no costs,” she ruled.
Later, outside court, Ms Nshaija told journalists: “That’s what I expected from the judgment because I went to school, I have been in Parliament for five years and the documents I presented to the Electoral Commission last time are the real ones I presented this time.”