Five lions have died in the Queen Elizabeth National Park after unknown people poisoned them.Chief Park Warden Tom Okello Obong said over the weekend that suspected Basongora cattle keepers were behind the act.

Obong had earlier confirmed to tourism state minister Sarapio Rukundo that herdsmen who, more than three months ago, were evicted from Virunga National Park in the DR Congo, were illegally grazing in the reservation area.

This was at a July 7 meeting at Mweya Safari Lodge, where the minister met Kasese district leaders and officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) over the stay of cattle keepers in the game reserve.

Obong said UWA had offered a temporary stay in Nyakatonzi to the evicted Basongora as the Government finds a settlement area for them.

He said the herdsmen had moved deeper into the park, where they interfered with the animals. However, Kasese district disaster preparedness committee chairman Pascal Mubi said part of Ibuga Prison land had been given to the cattle keepers.

He said they were waiting for the farmers to harvest their crops to allow the cattle keepers to move to the area.

This is so unfair especially when there are very few Lions left for the Park, there is need sensitize the local communities about the importance of wild life. A week ago, Hyenas died of the same case.

By Namisi

Uganda Safari News