On March 19, 2025, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) led a multi-agency law enforcement operation in Kampala following intelligence that a resident of Kanungu, Western Uganda, was attempting to sell elephant ivory in the capital.
Dubbed Operation Chair, the investigation culminated in the successful interception of the trafficker at a bus station in Kampala. Concealed within cassava sacks, officers discovered and seized nine pieces of ivory weighing a total of 36 kilos. The trafficker was immediately taken into custody.
Following the arrest, the suspect was swiftly prosecuted in the Wildlife Crime Court in Kampala, where he pled guilty to the charges. He now awaits sentencing.
This successful operation highlights the ongoing efforts of the UWCU and its partners to combat wildlife trafficking in Uganda. By leveraging intelligence-led investigations and inter-agency collaboration, authorities continue to dismantle trafficking networks and protect the country’s wildlife from exploitation.
