Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit

The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) continues to save live wildlife and arrest traffickers. In Operation Gunwhale, two suspects were arrested for attempting to sell a live Ground pangolin near Sironko, Uganda. Unfortunately the pangolin suffered a severed foot, likely from a snare or trap used to capture the animal. Due to the injury, the pangolin will not be released back into the wild and is currently being cared for in Kampala.

The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit, as part of a multi-agency operation, engaged a group of wildlife traffickers near Wakiso, Uganda who were offering elephant ivory tusks for sale. Two suspects were arrested and found with 15 kgs. of cut ivory tusks. NOTE: two of the tusks were very small and originated from immature elephants.

A multi-agency operation, lead by the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit, resulted in the arrest of two suspects who were unlawfully attempting to supply 4 elephant tusks weighing approximately 22 kgs. The suspect traveled from near the South Sudan border and transported the ivory hidden inside a sack containing charcoal.

Following the arrests, two additional arrests were made on suspects who were responsible for transporting the tusks from Ibanda, Uganda.

The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit generated a successful operation called Op Hull. The investigation resulted in the arrest of three traffickers who possessed 25 kgs. of cut elephant ivory that was being offered for sale.

After agreeing to meet with the traffickers near Amuria in Uganda, three persons arrived carrying a sack containing elephant ivory tusks that had been cut up. All three suspects were arrested and will appear in Kampala Wildlife Crime Court.

Led by the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit, a multi-agency operation called Rudder resulted in the arrest of one trafficker who possessed 12 kgs. of elephant ivory and 4 hippo teeth that were being offered for sale.

After agreeing to meet with the trafficker in Bushenyi, Uganda, it was determoined that the trafficker was stranded along the roadside. The officers were able to locate the trafficker who was in possesion of the ivory and teeth. The suspect was taken into custody at that time.

On August 16, 2023, a multi-agency team led by the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit successfully arrested a trafficker who possessed 18 kgs of elephant tusks that was being offered for sale.

With assistance from local police, the suspect was arrested in Kampala and charged for the wilclife crimes.

Operation Pen was led by the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit that resulted in the arrest of two suspects involved in trafficking pangolin scales .

Carrying a military style rucksack, the two suspects met with UWCU officers near Kampala. The arrest took place at the location and locals became agitated and fired shots in the air. The officers were able to safely depart the area with the arrested suspects who await charges.

The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit led a multi-agency operation that resulted in the arrest of 3 traffickers who were attempting to sell a live Giant Ground Pangolin near the Amuru District in Uganda. The pangolin received care and will eventually be released back into the wild.

Operation Rope was a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit that resulted in the arrest of one suspect in the Nwoya District who attempted to sell one serval skin, a large cat skull and a bottle containing oil from a leopard.

On July 11, 2023, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit collaborated with the World Parrot Trust to investigate the possible trafficking of parrots near Kampala. The traffickers met with operatives to sell 18 live lovebirds that were unlawfully possessed. Two suspects were arrested and the 18 Fisher’s Lovebirds were seized. The parrots are currently being cared