A Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ranger was shot dead by suspected poachers while on patrol in Kyaruhinda, Lake Mburo National Park, on the night of Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Sergeant Charles Ngabirano was shot at night by armed individuals while patrolling with his colleagues in Kyaruhinda.
The tragedy comes short followed the death of another ranger, Pte. Jonathan Olara, who was killed in November 2024 during a confrontation with suspected poachers in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The UWA rangers are always at the forefront of protecting Uganda’s wildlife and natural ecosystems in national parks and wildlife reserves across the country. Their work often puts their lives at risk to combat poachers who look for valuable wildlife resources such as ivory.
The relatively small Lake Mburo National Park is the most accessible of all Uganda’s national parks and it is known for hosting diverse wildlife. The history of the park reads that lots of human wildlife conflicts have been registered in the past and the park lost unique wildlife such as lions due to conflicts with the neigboring pastoral communities. Though not rampant, the park has become a hotspot for illegal activities such as poaching and encroachment by pastoralist communities.
UWA highlighted the challenges faced by its rangers, stating, “Our rangers are on the frontlines every day, working tirelessly to conserve our wildlife. Unfortunately, they frequently encounter armed individuals illegally entering the parks, posing threats to both wildlife and our staff.”
