A Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldier, Private Yasin Jerwa, has been fined 5 million shillings by the Utilities and Standard Court for unlawfully possessing a live pangolin and various pangolin parts. The ruling was delivered by Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu on June 13, 2024, following Jerwa’s guilty plea.
Prosecutors revealed that on October 17, 2023, Jerwa was found at UPDF offices in Lower Kololo, Kampala, with a live white pangolin, 0.35 kilograms of brown pangolin scales, 0.2 kilograms of white belly pangolin scales, and a baby white belly pangolin skin weighing 0.01 kilograms. These items are protected under wildlife conservation laws, and Jerwa had no legal authorization to possess them.
Magistrate Kamasanyu sentenced Jerwa to pay a fine of 5 million shillings or face two years in prison. During sentencing, she condemned Jerwa for absconding bail, which resulted in one of his sureties being jailed. It was only due to media attention that the army leadership eventually brought Jerwa to court.
The magistrate highlighted the troubling trend of military personnel being involved in wildlife crimes, noting that Jerwa, a private in the UPDF, had stored the illegal pangolin parts at a UPDF office. This involvement of soldiers complicates efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade, as those expected to enforce the law are often the ones breaking it.
“There is a high involvement of soldiers in illegal wildlife activities. In this case, the convict kept the live pangolin and its parts at a UPDF office, undermining efforts to curb wildlife crimes,” Magistrate Kamasanyu stated. She emphasized the importance of conserving pangolins, which are culturally significant in Buganda and beneficial for their role in pest control and attracting tourism. Pangolins are also highly sought after in Asia for their meat and scales.
While Jerwa could have faced a maximum punishment of life imprisonment or a fine of 200 million shillings, Magistrate Kamasanyu opted for a lesser sentence due to his guilty plea. She noted that his admission of guilt showed remorse and acknowledged his potential for reform and future contribution to wildlife conservation.
The court ordered that the confiscated pangolin parts be handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Centre.
The prosecution’s case outlined that on October 17, 2023, Jerwa was found with a live pangolin and various pangolin parts at the UPDF office in Lower Kololo, Kampala. Despite having these protected species, Jerwa did not have the required legal permits to possess them, leading to his conviction and sentencing.
