Businessman arrested over possession of wildlife species

Gasama Sikhou (59), a Senegalese Ugandan by registration is currently under custody at CPS Central Police Station (CPS) over unlawful possession of wildlife species and awaiting trial.

Following an operation carried out by Natural Resource Conservation Network (NRCN) in partnership with Uganda Police and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), 24 bags of Pangoline scales equivalent to 900kgs and 8pieces of Ivory were recovered at a warehouse in Nakawuka-Nakirima Kasenga, Wakiso District belonging to Gasama Sikhou.

The suspect, Gasama is a Ugandan by registration believed to have come to Uganda in 1989 and applied for a work permit in 1990. In Uganda, he started doing business by importing second hand clothes from Europe and USA.

In a statement to police, Gasama denies any knowledge of the recovered species, stating that he only deals in the business of Moringa, black pepper and fish.

NRCN’s PR Consultant, Okello Sharon Nagenjwa says that most people they have arrested over wildlife trade also trade in other commodities as a disguise mechanism but until Uganda is safe for the wild animals, they shall not rest and will rain the full arm of the law on poachers.

Ivory and Pangolin trade is illegal according to Wildlife act of endangering protected species.