Kampala — NINETY-seven poachers have surrendered their hunting gear to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and denounced their illegal activities. The group, led by Lawrence Ochokudogu alias Mobutu, handed over their tools to the warden in charge of conservation at the Murchison Falls Conservation Area, Stonewall Kato, at Bokwe Primary School in Masindi district on Saturday

The items included four AK47 rifles that were recovered from Mobutu. A total of 40 spears, arrows, snares and wheel traps were handed over.

Mobutu said he had been buying the ammunition from Government soldiers whom he declined to mention.

He did not divulge how much the guns cost but he said he bought each bullet at sh500.

He revealed that he had been a lead poacher for a gang of about 30 people for 17 years.

During that time, he killed over 20 wild animals, mainly elephants within the Murchison Falls National Park.

"I used to kill the animals while others dried and transported the meat," confessed Mobutu, before a large crowd that turned up to witness the handover.

Other members of his band owned up to killing six elephants, two lions, 220 buffalos, 72 bush pigs, 57 baboons, 20 dickers and an 'uncountable' number of antelopes.

Kato said the poachers were being encouraged to surrender through an amnesty programme that UWA started in 2004 in an effort to save the endangered wildlife.

Those that surrender voluntarily are not liable to punishment. "Over 3,000 poachers have surrendered," said Kato.