The report evaluates wildlife trade and poaching trends in Uganda, highlighting its role as a key transit hub for international wildlife trafficking. Developed under the USAID-funded Wildlife TRAPS Project by TRAFFIC and IUCN, it aims to disrupt the illegal trade of high-value species across Africa and Asia.
Using national reports, literature, online data, and stakeholder interviews, the report examines trade trends, poaching occurrences, main drivers, and affected species. A crucial event was the Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Stakeholder Workshop in Kampala in August 2016, involving over 60 stakeholders discussing species status, poaching and trafficking routes, transportation control efforts, and legal frameworks.
Key findings in Chapter 6 include insights on Uganda's major traded species, wildlife legislation, implementation progress, and international cooperation. The report discusses poaching trends, drivers, seizures, prosecutions, tourism and economic impacts, and links to political conflict and organised crime. It highlights issues in species identification, corruption, and inspection inadequacies, identifying species like the Grey Crowned-crane and Shoebill as targets for illegal trade. The active reptile trade, particularly in chameleons and tortoises, and a rise in pangolin scale exports post-2009 are noted. It covers Uganda's wildlife protection legislation, community involvement, and the importance of transboundary cooperation.
Chapter 6.3 explores poaching and trafficking trends, legislation effectiveness, poaching syndicates, and trafficking routes. In Uganda, poaching targets species for meat consumption, pet trade, and traditional medicine, while Uganda also acts as a transit hub for ivory trafficking. Pangolin demand is driven by international markets. The illegal bird and reptile trade has declined, possibly due to stricter measures. The poaching syndicate is organised in a five-level hierarchy linked to transnational crime networks. Despite increased arrests, weak legislation hinders enforcement. Uganda's main concern is its transit hub role, facilitated by organised crime, law enforcement loopholes, and corruption.
Stakeholder recommendations include improving law enforcement, managing ivory stocks, enhancing information management, engaging communities, boosting education and awareness, and fostering transboundary cooperation.
Using national reports, literature, online data, and stakeholder interviews, the report examines trade trends, poaching occurrences, main drivers, and affected species. A crucial event was the Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Stakeholder Workshop in Kampala in August 2016, involving over 60 stakeholders discussing species status, poaching and trafficking routes, transportation control efforts, and legal frameworks.
Key findings in Chapter 6 include insights on Uganda's major traded species, wildlife legislation, implementation progress, and international cooperation. The report discusses poaching trends, drivers, seizures, prosecutions, tourism and economic impacts, and links to political conflict and organised crime. It highlights issues in species identification, corruption, and inspection inadequacies, identifying species like the Grey Crowned-crane and Shoebill as targets for illegal trade. The active reptile trade, particularly in chameleons and tortoises, and a rise in pangolin scale exports post-2009 are noted. It covers Uganda's wildlife protection legislation, community involvement, and the importance of transboundary cooperation.
Chapter 6.3 explores poaching and trafficking trends, legislation effectiveness, poaching syndicates, and trafficking routes. In Uganda, poaching targets species for meat consumption, pet trade, and traditional medicine, while Uganda also acts as a transit hub for ivory trafficking. Pangolin demand is driven by international markets. The illegal bird and reptile trade has declined, possibly due to stricter measures. The poaching syndicate is organised in a five-level hierarchy linked to transnational crime networks. Despite increased arrests, weak legislation hinders enforcement. Uganda's main concern is its transit hub role, facilitated by organised crime, law enforcement loopholes, and corruption.
Stakeholder recommendations include improving law enforcement, managing ivory stocks, enhancing information management, engaging communities, boosting education and awareness, and fostering transboundary cooperation.
