Kampala, Uganda.
A Ugandan nurse and a Kenyan businessman stand accused of the illegal possession of 18 lesser birds-of-paradise. The unfolding case, held before Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu at the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court at Buganda Road, shed light on the urgent need for safeguarding threatened species.
Hosea Isingoma and Mwaura Njuguna faced charges under Section 71 (1) (b) of the Wildlife Act of 2019, carrying a severe penalty of life imprisonment or a fine of sh200m. The prosecution, led by Hamis Latif from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), presented a compelling case, exposing the details of their alleged offense.
According to Latif, the accused were apprehended with 18 lesser birds-of-paradise in Bukoto, Kampala, on a pivotal day in July. These captivating creatures, adorned with maroon-brown hues and a yellow crown, are a rare sight in Uganda’s skies. Tragically, the accused lacked the essential licenses to rear such magnificent beings, intensifying the gravity of their crime.
As the trial progressed, defense lawyer Anthony Mugumya raised a significant objection, questioning whether the birds in question were truly protected species under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade. The court grappled with a decisive question: Were the lesser birds-of-paradise genuinely endangered?
Online sources reveal that the lesser birds-of-paradise fall under the category of “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and are listed on Appendix II of CITES. Despite this classification, wildlife conservationists advocate stringent measures to shield these stunning creatures from any form of exploitation. The court’s ruling, scheduled for August 30, 2023, holds the fate of Isingoma and Njuguna in the balance. Wildlife experts and legal minds alike contemplate the intricacies of the case, acknowledging the imperative to protect the lesser birds-of-paradise, regardless of their precise categorization.
