The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has secured a deterrent sentence against four wildlife offenders convicted by the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Masindi for unlawful entry into a protected area, unlawful hunting, and unlawful possession of wildlife specimens of protected species.
The offenders, identified as Owinja Gilbert, Oyergiu Damas, Iutung Godfrey and Oyirworh Stephen, were arrested on 15 July 2026 at about 9:15 a.m. in the Corner Ojara area. They appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Masindi on 23 July 2026, pleaded guilty to all charges, and were remanded.
On 3rd September 2026, the court sentenced each offender to two years’ imprisonment for unlawful entry into a protected area, four years for unlawful hunting in a protected area, and eight years for unlawful possession of wildlife specimens of protected species. The sentences will run concurrently.
In addition, each convict was ordered to pay UGX 10,000 per kilogram of wildlife meat, amounting to UGX 4,170,000 for the 417 kilograms recovered.
The exhibits included 11 spears, four knives, one panga, one sharpening file, 417.952 kilograms of suspected wildlife meat, five buffalo tails, one giraffe tail, two buffalo horns, one oribi horn, Uganda kob skin and legs, Jackson’s hartebeest legs, and other buffalo body parts.
Defence counsel Ms. Ajok Harriet pleaded for leniency, citing the offenders’ status as first-time offenders and their family responsibilities. However, UWA lead prosecutor Kato Robinson urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, citing the increasing prevalence of wildlife offences around Murchison Falls National Park and the importance of wildlife tourism to Uganda’s economy.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate His Worship Olara Gumutwero noted that although the offenders were first-time offenders, the increasing prevalence of wildlife crime warranted a deterrent sentence. He emphasized the importance of protecting wildlife to support Uganda’s tourism industry and national development goals.
UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi said UWA remains committed to protecting Uganda’s wildlife and will continue working with law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary to combat wildlife crime. He urged people involved in wildlife trafficking and other wildlife crimes to seek alternative livelihoods, noting that UWA is deploying technology to track offenders and strengthening ranger presence to protect Uganda’s natural heritage.
