By Staff Writer.
Unlawful trade of wild meat is thriving in Kotido district as former warriors turn their ‘guns’ to poaching in the Bokora-Matheniko Wildlife Reserve, threatening wildlife species.
The sale of wild meat, also known as bushmeat, has become a lucrative business, with poachers and traders reaping huge profits at the expense of the environment and local communities.
The illegal activity has lately become rampant among the residents of Napumpum and Rikitae Sub counties with wild meat being sold in open markets during broad day time.
According to local authorities, the poachers are the former armed warriors who have turned on poaching as a means of survival through sale of game meat.
They hunt the animals during the night using bows and arrows as well as torches to attract them from the Bokora-Matheniko wildlife reserve which covers Kotido, Napak and Moroto districts.
The Cobs (Ngikaleeso), Ostriches, Antelopes, Guinea Fowls (Ngatapengo) are some of the common prey to the skilled hunters who kill between 30 and 50 different animal species per day according to local estimates.
The poached meat is transported through a complex network of trade routes, spanning across the districts. Middlemen buy the meat from poachers and sell it to vendors in urban markets.
The observations from Etoil A Karamoja shows that Kotido town is providing the biggest market to wild meat, and most meat roasters have grasped the opportunity to make profits.
At Napumpum Trading Centre, game meat is the order of the day with a piece of meat going for as low as 2,000 shillings.
Benedict Oyugi, the District Councilor says the rampant poaching is a threat to wildlife.
He is calling on the Uganda Wildlife Authority, (UWA) to carry out sensitization of the community to appreciate the value of wildlife.
He has called for formation of vigilante and protection groups to help protect wildlife in coordination with UWA.
The LC1 Chairperson of Napumpum, Paul Nangiro says that the rate of killing wild animals is alarming and should be checked.
However, Martin Oriem, the Warden Community Conservative for Kidepo National Game Park says they are going to crack a whip on the poachers after sensitization of the communities.
Under the Uganda’s Wildlife Act of 2019, poaching of endangered species can lead to life imprisonment, a fine of up to 20 billion Ugandan shillings (approximately $5.5 million), or both.
Selling or being in possession of wild meat also attracts penalties under the Uganda Wildlife Act, 2019.
