Two poachers were on Sunday shot dead by game rangers at Murchison Falls National Park in Masindi.

The two, John Opio Okeng and John Okello, residents of Omea B in Aber Sub-County, Oyam District were killed on Sunday night for allegedly hunting wildlife near the Masindi-Packwach road.

Sources say that a third poacher only identified as Okello, was also shot in the buttocks but survived and is receiving treatment at an undisclosed location.

This is the second group of poachers to be shot dead by game rangers at Murchison Falls National Park in recent weeks.

Tom Arach, the LC3 chairman of Aber, says poaching is one of the most common illegal economic activities in the sub-county. He says many young men are lured into poaching because of the ready market for game meat.

Arach however condemned the practice of game rangers who kill poachers on sight. He says it is cruel and unusual punishment, given the amount of damage stray animals cause on peasant farms when they wander away from the national park.

Daniel Odyek, a resident of Nora village which lies along the border with the national park in Aber Sub-County, says his farm was recently destroyed by marauding elephants from the park. He says he cannot grow any food because of consistent invasion by wildlife.

The bodies of the slain poachers are being held at the rangers' base at Karuma. It is expected that they will be picked up for burial later this week.