UPDF soldier jailed

The Standards, Utilities and Wild Life court has ordered a 57- year-old UPDF soldier to serve 3 years in jail or vomit a fine of 5 million shillings for being in possession of six ostrich eggs.

The accused identified as David Okot a resident of Ogoria Village in Amuria district was on Thursday found guilty on his own plea of possessing specimens of protected species.

Court heard that on March 10th, 2023, while at Petua Garden Katakwi Town Council in Katakwi District Okot was found in possession of the six ostrich eggs without a wildlife use right.

In his defense, Okot asked for a lenient sentence, saying he saw the eggs in the forest and picked them out of curiosity.

UPDF soldier jailed

While sentencing him, Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu said the 57- year- old soldier behaved in a unbecoming manner and needed a punishment to help him reform and deter other would be offenders and that Wild Life species are at the verge of being extinct.

Kamasanyu was surprised that a soldier, meant to be exemplary would commit such a crime.

Kamasanyu also convicted three other people for being in unlawful possession of 102 crocodile eggs, 12 hippopotamus canines, and 12 incisors weighing 10.2 kilograms.

UPDF soldier jailed 

By Rashidah Nakaayi