Security teams from Kenya and Uganda have agreed to jointly fight poaching and cross border illegal business commonly termed as ‘magendo’ along the border at Lwakhakha.
The porous border has been used by criminals from either side but officers from the two countries have now identified 21 undesignated routes used by poachers to hunt elephants in Mt Elgon forest. During a meeting at Lwakhakha border point, poaching and illegal business was top of the agenda for the security team. Bungoma County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed and Magomu Mubaraka Resident District Commissioner Manafwa District in Uganda said they will work together to deal with poaching, which is an international menace.
Mr Mohammed said through intelligence information from Uganda, his security team was pursuing seven poachers who had invaded Mt Elgon forest targeting to kill elephants.
“We have been working together as a security team. We managed to kill one poacher; six others are at large but we will get them. We got tip offs from Ugandan security,” said Maalim. He said similarly, Uganda’s security team nabbed a consignment of ivory following information from Kenya’s security. They called on both governments to review laws on poaching. “We need stiff laws to deal with poaching.
The current laws are weak and that is why we are faced with a high rate of poaching,” he said. Mr Mubaraka attributed increased crime at the border to boda boda transport. He said the Ugandan Government will boost security checks to deal with criminal activities for a peaceful co-existence with its neighbouring countries.
