Police in Fort Portal (Kabarole District) with help from Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN) has arrested 4 people while in possession of 58kgs of Elephant tusks worth 23.2 million shillings containing a bullet projectile.

Kibonge Robert, 31, a peasant farmer, Twesigye Alex, 42, Katwire Robert, 42, and Turyamureeba Rodson, 40, all Ugandan citizens were arrested with a product from a protected species.

This was during a transaction near the post office in Fort Portal town.

According to Kibonge, it was around April this year while he was digging in his garden with Twesigye Alex that they discovered the elephant tusk buried in the ground and covered with grass.

The suspects are currently being detained at Fort Portal main Police station where they will be further questioned then arraigned in court.

According to the Natural Resource Conservation Network legal advisor and prosecutor Gladys Akello, the 4 will be charged with; Unlawful possession of a protected species contrary to Sections 30 and 75 (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Act CAP 200 which 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.

They will also be charged with conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 390 of the penal code act. This offence attracts a maximum sentence of 7 years in Prison.

The aggravating factors include concealing the contraband inside a sack.

According to the DPC Fort Portal Superintendent of Police Musa Tibakirana the crime is not rampant in the region since in the last 8 months they have only had 2 cases. He however noted that Fort portal town could be a major conduit route because it’s the biggest town in the region.