On the northern edge of Murchison Falls National Park, where the savannah stretches wide and elephants still move across ancient migratory routes, a quiet but calculated operation was unfolding.
On February 21, 2026, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU), with assistance from the Uganda Police Force and Focused Conservation, launched Operation Blackthorn in Purongo, Nwoya District. The mission was initiated after credible intelligence revealed that a wildlife trafficking group operating in the region was in possession of a significant quantity of elephant ivory.
During the covert phase. UWCU operatives infiltrated the trafficking network, carefully building evidence and confirming suspicions that the group had been frequenting Murchison Falls National Park and surrounding areas for the purpose of poaching and trafficking wildlife products. The intelligence suggested not only possession of ivory, but active engagement in the killing of elephants.
When the takedown phase commenced, officers made contact with the suspects and uncovered a cache of illegal wildlife items and related evidence. Seized during the operation were:
- 10 elephant tusks weighing a total of 154 kilograms
- Two poaching spears
- The skin of a serval cat
- Porcupine quills
- An elephant tail
- Wire snares
- An army uniform
All items were secured as evidence for further investigation and forensic examination.
During the operation, one suspect was arrested and will be charged under the Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 315. Authorities also reported that two bullets were located embedded within a piece of ivory, strongly suggesting that a firearm was used to kill at least one of the elephants. The discovery adds a troubling layer to the case and reinforces concerns about armed poaching activity in the region.
The operation has drawn significant attention from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), particularly given northern Uganda’s vulnerability as a transit corridor for illegal ivory trafficking. Senior management at UWA has taken a direct interest in the case as investigations continue.
Dr. James Musiinuzi, Director of UWA, underscored the significance of the seizure, stating, “This seizure sends a clear and firm message that Uganda will not tolerate wildlife crime.”
Focused Conservation and the UWCU have worked side by side since 2018, when the specialized unit was first formed. In the years since, the partnership has resulted in more than 700 law enforcement operations across Uganda, disrupting trafficking networks and strengthening the country’s capacity to combat organized wildlife crime.
Investigators are now coordinating with UWA to determine whether recent reports of elephant carcasses within Murchison Falls National Park or surrounding areas may be connected to this seizure. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend additional suspects linked to the trafficking network, and the recovered exhibits will undergo forensic analysis to support prosecution.
Operation Blackthorn represents more than a single seizure. It reflects sustained, intelligence-led enforcement and the growing strength of specialized wildlife crime units in Africa. As investigations continue, the message remains clear, those who profit from the destruction of wildlife will be targeted by our teams.
