UWA Secures Deterrent Sentences for Wildlife Offenders in Masindi

What the report says

Uganda Wildlife Authority has secured prison sentences and fines for four wildlife offenders convicted in Masindi over unlawful entry into a protected area, unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of wildlife specimens. According to Nile Post, the men — Owinja Gilbert, Oyergiu Damas, Iutung Godfrey and Oyirworh Stephen — were arrested on July 15, 2026, in the Corner Ojara area and later pleaded guilty before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Masindi on July 23.

The court on September 3, 2026, handed each offender different prison terms for the three offences, with the sentences to run concurrently. It also ordered them to pay Shs10,000 per kilogramme of wildlife meat recovered, amounting to Shs4.17 million for 417 kilograms of meat. The exhibits included hunting tools and multiple suspected wildlife parts, among them meat, tails, horns and skins from species such as buffalo, giraffe, oribi and Uganda kob.

Nile Post reported that UWA prosecutors pushed for a deterrent penalty, citing rising wildlife crime around Murchison Falls National Park. Defence counsel asked for leniency, saying the offenders were first-time offenders with family responsibilities. The magistrate said the seriousness of the crimes and the need to protect wildlife outweighed that argument.

The ruling comes as UWA and other enforcement agencies step up anti-poaching efforts. UWA Executive Director James Musinguzi said wildlife crime threatens conservation, tourism and the wider economy, and said the authority is increasing ranger presence and using technology to help detect offenders.