Two men sentenced to 8years in prison for killing six lions

By Elizabeth Ankunda

1^st Sept 2022

Two people convicted of killing six lions have been sentenced to 8years and 7months of imprisonment.

The convicts are Vincent Tumuhirwe and Robert Ariyo, a farmer and Boda Boda rider respectively from Kanungu District.

While sentencing them, the Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu concurred with the prosecutions that between March 17th and 19th, 2021 the accused persons illegally entered Habugombwa Kob Mating Ground Ishasha Sector Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kanungu District and hunted and killed six climbing lions through poisoning.

According to the Chief Magistrate Kamasanyu, these people were found in possession of four heads of lions, fifteen legs of lions, one tail of a lion and a three-litre jerrican of lion fats without a valid wildlife use right.

Kamasanyu adds that the killing of lions of which they are known not to be eaten is not justifiable.

She also notes that the killing of lions is a blow not only to Ugandan economy but also to Uganda World life Authority- UWA because it reduces tourism yet tourism is very important to the economy.