Kiira Road Police together with officials from the Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have arrested red-handed UPDF’s Warrant Officer Julius Mugume, and Richard Tumwebaze, a bar manager in Entebbe, while selling 16kgs of pure elephant ivory.
These were arrested on 17th May at Mackie`s Restaurant Kamwokya Kampala after long investigations by the conservationists and police.
The UPDF officer, police says, came as security to the seller of the contraband.
The NRCN publicist, Laban Muhindo told Chimpreports that the two suspects remain detained at Kira road Police Station waiting to appear in court as the hunt for their counterparts intensifies.
The development comes a few months after another two senior UPDF officers were arrested by NRCN in possession of the same in Eastern Uganda.
Environmentalists say the elephants could be extinct within three decades unless they are protected.
Uganda has a population of about 6000 with the biggest population living in Murchison falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National park.
“Elephants are categorized as endangered animals listed on the red list of the world conservation union meaning that they are facing extinction if nothing is done to stop the trade and to protect their habitat,” said Muhindo.