July 3, 2025 — Kanungu District, Uganda
In a decisive operation near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) arrested a known wildlife trafficker following a coordinated multi-agency enforcement effort.
Dubbed Operation Goal, the mission was conducted in Kanungu District with the support of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers from Queen Elizabeth National Park and local law enforcement. The suspect was apprehended in possession of six pieces of elephant ivory weighing approximately 40 kilograms.
This trafficker is no stranger to wildlife enforcement authorities. He was previously arrested by the UWCU in March 2025 during Operation Chair, a separate investigation that led to the seizure of nine pieces of ivory weighing 36 kilograms, concealed in cassava sacks during his arrival in Kampala from Kanungu.
Following his latest arrest, the trafficker was transported to Kampala where he will now face additional charges. Prosecutors are expected to pursue the new case in conjunction with the ongoing prosecution stemming from his earlier arrest.
Focused Conservation Technical Advisors continue to work closely with UWCU officers, offering operational support, mentoring, and strategic coordination in the field. This arrest highlights not only the persistent threat of repeat offenders in the illegal ivory trade, but also the growing effectiveness of Uganda’s multi-agency wildlife crime enforcement model.
