The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has arrested a suspected ivory trafficker in Nwoya district and recovered 154 kilograms of elephant ivory in what officials are describing as a significant breakthrough in the fight against wildlife crime.
The intelligence-led operation was conducted by UWA’s Special Wildlife Crime Unit in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force.
Authorities say the arrest underscores renewed efforts to dismantle illegal wildlife trafficking networks operating within and across Uganda’s borders.
UWA Assistant Commissioner for Communications, Bashir Hangi, identified the suspect as Opiro Francis. According to Hangi, Opiro was arrested on February 22, 2026, in Nwoya while in possession of ten pieces of raw elephant tusks weighing a combined 154 kilograms.
“The suspect will be produced before the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court to face charges of unlawful possession of protected wildlife specimens, contrary to the Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 315,” Hangi said.
The Uganda Wildlife Act provides stiff penalties for individuals convicted of illegal possession, trade, or trafficking of protected wildlife species and their derivatives.
UWA Executive Director, Dr. James Musinguzi, said the seizure sends a clear message that Uganda will not tolerate ivory trafficking, which he described as a serious crime threatening elephant populations and undermining decades of conservation gains.
“This seizure sends a clear and firm message that Uganda will not tolerate wildlife crime. Ivory trafficking is a serious offense that threatens our elephant populations, undermines conservation gains, and fuels organized criminal networks operating across borders,” Dr. Musinguzi said.
He emphasized that the success of the Nwoya operation reflects the strength of intelligence-driven enforcement and close coordination between UWA and other security agencies.
“We remain fully committed to dismantling wildlife trafficking networks wherever they operate,” he added.
Northern Uganda has previously been flagged by conservation authorities as a transit corridor for illegal ivory destined for international markets.
However, Dr. Musinguzi noted that enforcement presence in the region has been significantly strengthened.
“Enforcement efforts are being intensified nationwide. Anyone involved in wildlife trafficking should know that arrest, prosecution, and stiff penalties are inevitable,” he warned.
Uganda is home to a growing elephant population, largely protected within national parks and wildlife reserves. Conservationists have long cautioned that illegal ivory trade not only threatens biodiversity but also impacts tourism revenue and community livelihoods tied to wildlife conservation.
UWA reiterated its commitment to protecting Uganda’s wildlife heritage by disrupting trafficking networks at all levels from poachers to middlemen and cross-border syndicates.
The authority is also urging members of the public to report suspicious wildlife-related activities to law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that public vigilance remains critical in safeguarding the country’s natural resources.
The suspect remains in custody pending court proceedings.
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