Nimule Game Reserve. (Photo: BomaHills Tourism).

The Director-General at the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism has accused elements from the Uganda People’s Defense Forces of repeated poaching of wild animals in South Sudan’s Nimule Game Reserve.

Lt General Khamis Adiang Diing said the latest incident was the fatal shooting of an elephant with a PKM machine-gun near the Ugandan border on February 28, 2023.

General Adiang said he suspect UPDF soldiers deployed in the military garrison, but Eye Radio could not acertain his claims.

“These violations are always committed by the Ugandan side, which penetrates the territory of South Sudan and kills wild animals, especially elephants,” he said.

“In this latest incident that happened last week, when we examined the carcass of the elephant, we found that it had been shot with PKM.”

“This operation was carried out by the Ugandan forces that were deployed in a place called Panchalla near the border between the two countries.”

The wildlife official said the elephants at the Nimule Park are poached by the foreign troops for their tusks.

“We have reported the case to the commissioner of the Moya district in Uganda side to coordinate to end the violation of Uganda forces in South Sudan land.”