28 arrested for vandalizing property at Ziwa rhino sanctuary as land dispute escalates

Nakasongola, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nakasongola police are holding 28 people in connection to the reported vandalism at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary following the escalation of the land dispute.

Isah Ssemwogerere, the Savannah Region Police Spokesperson says suspects pretended to be tourists to gain access to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where they broke into offices and vandalized property using hammers and axes.

They destroyed office equipment such as computers and furniture worth millions of Shillings. According to Ssemwogerere, police swung in action swiftly and managed to apprehend the suspects.

Preliminary investigations show that the vandals came from Kampala with a mission to destroy property because of the ongoing feud between Rhino Fund Uganda [RFU] and Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches [ZRWR], the owners of the 16,000 acres of land hosting the sanctuary.

The development comes a day after Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA] issued a statement indicating their plans to relocate 33 Rhinos from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary because of the land dispute.

It came after Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches [ZRWR] ordered Rhino Fund Uganda, a Non-Government Organization [NGO], which has been managing the sanctuary to vacate the land.

They also ordered Uganda Wildlife Authority to relocate the rhinos. This prompted Uganda Wildlife Authority to deploy security at the sanctuary to ensure the security of the Rhinos.

Bashir Hangi, the UWA Communications Manager said in a statement released Friday that they took over security at the sanctuary to secure the Rhinos until the conflict between Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches aand Rhino Fund Uganda is resolved.

When asked about the attack, moments after UWA took over security of the sanctuary, Hangi declined to comment saying the matter is police hands.

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