The Iziphathimandla Zasendle Zase-Uganda (I-UWA) isiqinisekisile ukulahleka komqaphi kwabazingeli abahlomile okwenzeka ngoDisemba 5, 2020. Ngasekupheleni kwesikhathi, ukonga izilwane zasendle nezokuvakasha sekuyinto eyingozi.
Ememezela lezi zindaba ezidabukisayo ngesikhathi ekhishwa ngoDisemba 7, iMenenja Yezokuxhumana ye-UWA uBashir Hangi wathi: “Kusihlungu kakhulu ukuthi simemezela ukudlula emhlabeni kukaSgt. Emmanuel Matsipa owabulawa ngabazingeli abangekho emthethweni ngesikhathi besemsebenzini Ipaki leSizwe le-Kibale ngoDisemba 5, 2020.
"USgt Matsipa ongasekho kanye nozakwabo abayisihlanu bahlaselwe ngabazingeli abazingeli abahlomile ababalelwa ku-5 ezindaweni ezizungeze iKanyantare esifundeni saseKyejonjo ngaphakathi eKibale National Park abavulele ngenhlamvu bambulala ngaso leso sikhathi.
"Ithimba liphendule ngomlilo, kwabulawa omunye wabazingeli ngesikhathi abanye bebaleka."
UMqondisi oMkhulu we-UWA, uSam Mwandha, wadumala lapho ezwa lokho uSgt. UMatsipa wayehlangane nokushona kwakhe ezandleni zabazingeli abazingela ngokungemthetho ngesikhathi besemsebenzini. Ubalule ukuthi kuyishwa ukulahlekelwa ngabasebenzi ngenxa yamaqembu ezigebengu ahlomile.
“Silahlekelwe ngelinye iqhawe. Inani elandayo lezilwane zasendle ezweni lonke kungenxa yabantu abazidelayo njengoMatsipa. Sizokhumbula uSgt. UMatsipa njengomgadli onesibindi obeka leli lizwe kuqala wagcina ngokuhweba ngempilo yakhe ngezilwane zasendle, ”kusho yena.
“USgt ongasekho. UMatsipa ubelokhu esebenza ngokuzikhandla futhi engenabugovu. Wenza umsebenzi wakhe ngokuzimisela futhi waba ugqozi kwabaningi. Lesi sikhungo sizokukhumbula kakhulu ukuzibophezela kwakhe, ukusebenza kanzima, isibindi nentshisekelo yokongiwa kwemvelo.
“Ukushona kwakhe nabanye asebefele ezandleni zabazingeli abazingele ngokungemthetho kukhombisa indawo enobutha esisebenza kuyo ukuvikela nokugcina ifa lezilwane zasendle e-Uganda. Noma kunjalo, sishukunyiselwe nokuqhubeka nokuvikela ifa lethu lezilwane zasendle yena nabanye abakhokha ngalo inani lokugcina.
“Ukonga imithombo yethu yezilwane zasendle kuhlala kuyingozi. Sibeka izimpilo zethu emgqeni imini nobusuku ekufezeni igunya lethu, futhi sinxusa umphakathi ikakhulukazi imiphakathi eyakhelene nezindawo ezivikelekile ukuthi isisekele kulokhu. Akufanele sivumele abantu abambalwa abanobugovu ukuba banqume izilwane zethu zasendle ngenhloso yokuzizuzisa ngokwabo bonke abantu base-Uganda. Ukuzingela ngokungemthetho kusintshontshela sonke! ”
USgt ongasekho. UMatsipa Emmanual usebenze i-UWA iminyaka engama-23 ejoyine lesi sikhungo ngoFebhuwari 1, 1997 njengomqondisi wabavakashi eSemliki Wildlife Reserve. Waphinde wabelwa ukuqondiswa komthetho njengomqaphi ngo-1999 futhi ukusebenza kwakhe kanzima, ukuzibophezela, nokuzibophezela kwakhe ekulondolozeni izilwane zasendle kanye nezokuvakasha kwambona ekhuphuka erenki eya kuSergeant ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe.
Ushiya umfelokazi nezingane eziyisikhombisa. Sengathi angaphumula ngokuthula kwaphakade.
LOKHO ONGAKUTHATHE KULESI SIHLOKO:
- He was redeployed to Law Enforcement as a ranger in1999 and his hard work, dedication, and commitment to conserving wildlife and tourism saw him rise through the ranks to Sergeant at the time of his death.
- We put our lives on the line day and night in executing our mandate, and we call upon the public and especially the communities neighboring protected areas to support us in this cause.
- “His death and others who have died at the hands of armed poachers shows the hostile environment in which we operate to protect and conserve Uganda's wildlife heritage.
