39 Year-Old Netted with Shs 21m Worth Ivory

Police in Rubirizi District with help from Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN) has arrested one Person while in possession of 54.4kg of ivory worth 21.7 million.

John Rutagatina, 39, a Businessman dealing in coffee and a resident of Ngoro Village Ngoro Parish Kyakabare Sub County Rubirizi district and a Ugandan Citizen was arrested with a product from a protected species.

This was during a transaction in the out skirts of Rubirizi town.

Rutagatina alleged that the Ivory was simply kept at his house by a friend who was meant to pay him a commission after the sale.

He is currently detained at Rubirizi Police station from where he will be arraigned in court.

According to the Natural Resource Conservation Network Head of Legal and Prosecution Massa Leonard, Rutagatina John will be charged with Unlawful possession of a protected species contrary to Sections 30 and 75 (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Act CAP 200.

The Act provides for the offence of unlawful possession of protected species and the punishment is a fine of not less than 1m or not more than 5 years imprisonment and in any case the fine must be not less than the value of the wildlife product involved.

According to the OC CID Superintendent of Police Mulamuzi Moses, the crime is rampant in the area due to its well endowment of natural resources.

Meanwhile the DPC S.P Hasunira Ahmed warned all those involved in the trade that their 40days are over. He noted that the presence of forests in the area has surged the crime of wildlife trafficking.

Don Atungisa

Don Atungisa is a passionate writer, content curator and a digital marketing practitioner. Twitter??@don_atngz . Let's connect and have a chat.