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Poachers kill hippo, beat up UWA official
The DPC Soroti, Mr Moses Ochieng, inspects a hippo carcass at Soroti Central Police Station. PHOTO BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO
Soroti.
Drama ensued in the rural village of Agule-Aukot in Gweri Sub-county, Soroti District on Monday after poachers beat up an official from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The official had blocked them from sharing meat from a hippopotamus they had killed. The three-year-old female hippopotamus was gunned down by unknown poachers in the Agule-Aukot area.
Mr Simon Peter Obila, the UWA official attached to Murchison Falls Conservation Area, was beaten up by the poachers who wanted to share the meat among themselves.
He was, however, saved by police officers from Soroti Central Police Station commanded by the district police commander, Mr Moses Ochieng, who rushed to the scene. Upon seeing police officers, the poachers ran, abandoning their vehicle.
Mr Obila said area residents beat him up after he blocked a pick-up truck that was carrying the meat to an unknown destination from proceeding.
“We had information that there were some animals disturbing the community in Aukot. We rushed there to see how the community could be helped. But we were surprised to find that the armed illegal poachers crossed to this swamp and killed the animal,” Mr Obila told Daily Monitor.
Police towed the truck to Soroti Central Police Station where it is now parked.
Mr Ochieng confirmed to Daily Monitor that people in Aukot illegally killed the animal. He said: “This is purely illegal poaching and we have intercepted the meat pending investigation from both the police and officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. ”
He said the police handed over the meat to the UWA staff but will keep some samples as exhibits to help them proceed with the investigation. Sgt Mohamed Salim received it on UWA’s behalf.
According to UWA records, since the beginning of this year, five hippos have been killed by poachers in the swampy area of Awoja.
Mr Rogers Roll Omungos, a health worker at Aukot village, said the animals have always disturbed the community by destroying crops. He said there are still many hippos in the area and they cause great damage to people’s crops.
He blamed UWA officials for delaying to intervene and address their concerns. By press time, some police officers had demanded a share of the meat.
