Guns recovered from Murchison Falls linked to five murders

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT  A combined security team that has so far recovered eight guns from Murchison Falls National Park suspects that some of the firearms were used in at least five murders in different parts of the country.

A detective who participated in an operation against poachers said that particulars of bullet casings recovered at murder scenes in Nwoya, Oyam and in Kampala have a resemblance of bullets found in some of these guns. He said that they are now using forensic experts to establish if there are connections.

The hunt for poachers has been ongoing for the last three weeks after reports indicated that several elephants, buffalos and antelopes had been gunned down during the COVID-19 lockdown particularly in Nwoya and Oyam districts.

The head of CID’s General Crimes Department  Assistant Commissioner of Police Francis Olugu, and Col Allan Kyagungu, the head of National Taskforce for Wildlife, led a team of detectives and soldiers to hunt for poachers. Olugu confirmed that guns and exhibits have been handed over to the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory and the forensic department of the police force for proper examination and analysis.

“True we have cases where we suspect that poachers used the guns to kill wild animals, rob and murder people. Poachers often sell meat to people on credit and when one fails to pay they rob him or her at night using guns,” ACP Olugu said.

Out of the 14 suspects so far arrested in connection to Murchison Falls National Park poaching, two are army deserters while the other two are police officers attached to Jinja Road police station in Kampala. Police Constable Andrew Opio and Corporal Richard Iramo reportedly sold a gun to poachers at 2 million Shillings.

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