Police in Kasese District has arrested two People in possession of Ivory (24.8kgs) worth 9,600,000 million shillings while 3 suspects are still at large.

Bwambale Kalambi 32 and Mumbere Moses 35, all Ugandan Citizens from Kasese District were arrested by the Police flying squad with help from Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN).

These were arrested during a transaction in Bweera at the boarder of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo in Kasese district.

According to the leader of the racket, Bwambale Kalambi, they were given the contraband to sell and earn commission. The suspects are currently being held at Kasese Main Police Station.

The Natural Resource Conservation Network head of Legal and Prosecution Massa Leonard said that the two will be charged with;Unlawful possession of a protected species contrary to Sections 30 and 75 (b) of the Uganda Wildlife Act CAP 200 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.

Conspiracy to commit a felony will also be preferred against them. Section 390 of the Penal Code Act provides for the offense of Conspiracy to commit a felony. The punishment is imprisonment for not more than 7 years.

Uganda is a key transit country for the illegal trade, especially from Congo’s huge forests.

The trade is estimated to be worth $600 million annually.