Court deports and fines Yemen national
The Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court in Kampala has ordered the deportation of a Yemen national and fined him UGX60 million for the illegal possession and attempted exportation of a wildlife specimen.
The accused, Al-Maamari Maged Mutahar Ali, was found guilty of the charges including conspiring to commit a felony, by Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu. His driver Abubaker Mustafa was also ordered to pay a fine of UGX40 million on both charges.
The Court heard that the duo chopped a rhino horn into 26 pieces weighing 15 kilogrammes and packaged it in suitcases in order to conceal their crimes.
They were however netted by Uganda Wildlife Authority at the Departure Area of Entebbe International Airport on 29th May 2022 as they attempted to flee with the protected species.
They were also directed to forfeit the motor vehicle registration number UBH 194 E that was used in the crime to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Court deports and fines Yemen national
In a statement commenting on the case, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has applauded the security agencies that participated in the operation, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the judiciary and the media for supporting the conservation of wildlife in Uganda.
The duo remains in Luzira prison until they have raised the monies.
The conviction of the two comes barely a month after the same Court sentenced two men to serve a punishment of eight years and seven months in jail for killing six climbing lions in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The two, Vincent Tumuhirwe, a farmer, and Robert Ariyo, a bodaboda rider – both residents in Kanungu District – were sentenced by Kamasanyu on five charges related to entering a protected wildlife zone, hunting and killing wildlife animals.
