Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit

Focused Conservation’s recent visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda was more than an operational check in, it was about strengthening the bonds between conservation, communities, and culture. During the trip, our team met with Mike Birungi from the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s (UWA) Community Conservation Unit, with the goal of exploring how we […]

At Focused Conservation, our mission is to equip those on the front lines of wildlife protection with the specialized skills they need to make a lasting difference. Operating in high-threat environments requires training that is both challenging and realistic—customized to the unique needs of each partner. Our Technical Advisors not only mentor unit operatives but

Date: July 26, 2025Location: Purongo, bordering Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU), Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers, and support from Focused Conservation, a major wildlife trafficker has been stopped in Uganda. During Operation Glacier, carried out near Murchison Falls National Park, authorities apprehended a trafficker

Date: July 24, 2025Location: Nyakasharu, Western Uganda In a decisive win for elephant conservation, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) — supported by Focused Conservation, rangers from Queen Elizabeth National Park, and local police — carried out Operation Glory, a targeted investigation aimed at disrupting ivory poaching networks operating near the park. The joint operation

July 3, 2025 — Kanungu District, UgandaIn 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)

June 21, 2025 | Anaka, Uganda On June 21, 2025, officers from the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU), with support from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) at Murchison Falls National Park, carried out a successful enforcement operation in Anaka, located in the Nwoya District of Northern Uganda. The operation targeted an individual suspected of illegally

In the heart of East Africa, where the stakes of conservation are as high as the beauty of the landscapes, one elite team is rewriting the rules of wildlife protection. Since its inception in 2018, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) has emerged as a global model for multi-agency collaboration in the fight against wildlife

June 16, 2025 | Uganda In a decisive move against illegal wildlife trade, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) successfully carried out Operation Fortune on June 16, 2025—an intelligence-led investigation targeting a suspected ivory trafficking network operating within the country. The operation, initiated after intelligence gathering, focused on individuals believed to be active in the

Kampala, Uganda | May 24, 2025 — A coordinated law enforcement operation near Uganda’s capital city has resulted in the arrest of a ranking officer from a government agency found trafficking elephant ivory. The operation, a joint effort by Focused Conservation and the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU), highlights both the persistence of wildlife trafficking

Kampala, Uganda | May 21, 2025 — A covert law enforcement operation led by the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit (UWCU) has resulted in the arrest of two suspected wildlife traffickers and the seizure of illegal elephant ivory in Kampala. Dubbed Operation Eros, the investigation was launched after UWCU received actionable intelligence indicating that traffickers were