UWA SPEAKS OUT ON LION KILLED IN KAGADI

By Innocent Atuganyira

www.mknewslink.com

In Kagadi—-

The Uganda Wildlife Authority {UWA} has Saturday afternoon released a press statement on the lion that was killed on Friday afternoon in Rwabaragi Village in Rwabaragi Parish Mpeefu sub county Kagadi district Bunyoro sub region.

According to the press statement released by Bashir Hangi the communications manager Uganda Wildlife Authority, they received the information from their team leader at Kibale National Park regarding a lion in Kobushera village that had killed a number of livestock and was confirmed to have been seen by a number of people.

Hangi stated that their staff at Muhoro satellite outpost got in touch with the district police commander, linked up with him midday and went with him and other police officers at Rwabaragi where the lion was last sighted about 30km from Muhooro Town Council.

“Our objective was to assess the situation with a view of capturing the lion and trans locating it to a protected area,” he stated in the statement.

The communications manager stated that upon reaching the area, they found a crowd of communities who were already searching for the lion with all sorts of tools including machetes, spears, and big sticks because it had already injured three people in the area.

He further stated that the lion was already stressed and enraged by the presence and noise of a huge crowd that was following it with intentions to kill it.

Hangi explained that the community was asked to give way and let the UWA authorities and police handle the problem together with four community members, raised and the search team was shortly joined by the UPDF soldiers commanded by Lt. Col Lubega James of the first division Kyaterekera UPDF Battalion in Kagadi who took over the command of the first operation.

He also asserted that one UPDF soldier identified as Cpl. Amondi Moses sighted the lion and tried to shoot it but it jumped on him seriously injuring him in the process, and another UPDF soldier nearby shot the lion to save the life of the colleague.

“Immediately the lion was shot dead, communities that were in pursuit of the lion quickly skinned it and shared the meat, UWA staff pleas to handle the carcass fell on deaf ears and they were overpowered by the crowd,” He said.

Hangi further asserted that they only managed to secure the skin and the head from the carcase which were taken to police for record purpose and further investigations.

“We regret the incident in which this stray male lion lost its life and extend our sympathies to the communities injured by the lion during the hunt and those who lost their domestic animals,” he regretted.
He also advised the public to desist from attacking problem animals and instead report such cases to their toll-free lines.

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