Three people are nursing severe gunshot wounds after being shot by Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA rangers for allegedly trespassing and grazing animals inside Mt. Elgon National Park.
The gunshot victims are Walter Kibet,15, a resident of Katerit village, Cheboi perishes in Amanang sub-county, Fred Toskin, 52, and Nicholas Ruto,33, both residents of Kokorwo village in Chepkwasta Sub-county in Bukwo District.
Jackson Cherop, the LC 3 Chairperson of Amanang Sub County told Uganda Radio Network that UWA rangers were on routine patrol inside the national park from the Bukwo side when they found the victims allegedly grazing animals in the park on Tuesday evening.
According to Cherop, the suspects are believed to have turned violent as the Rangers tried to impound their animals, prompting them to open fire.
“The young boy was shot in the leg, one of the adults was hit by the bullet from the back while the other sustained injuries on both legs,” stated Cherop. He said the victims had been rushed to Bukwo Hospital while the other who was critically injured was rushed to Kapchorwa Hospital for a referral.
Cherop reminded UWA to respect the rule of law, saying that they should have instead apprehended the suspects.
He also warned citizens to avoid grazing animals inside the National Park to avoid conflicting with the rangers, which has led to the loss of lives in the past.
Bashir Hangi, the UWA Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, saying that the suspects were injured by stray bullets fired by the rangers as they retreated to avoid being lynched by a mob.
He says that communities around the national park have become hostile to the rangers, which prompts them to fight back in self-defense. Hangi has asked the community to be law-abiding citizens, saying that the National Park is out of bounds without authorization from UWA.
However, some residents have dismissed UWA’s narrative indicating that the gunshot victims turned rowdy when their animals were intercepted.
Martin Chemoywo, one of the residents also refutes claims that the gunshot victims were grazing animals inside the park and accuses the rangers of unprofessional conduct.
For over ten years now, the community living next to the national park has always been in conflict with UWA following the boundary conflicts, which have resulted in several killings and displacements.