Connected conservation is helping Uganda fight wildlife trafficking

Wildlife trafficking is evolving

Wildlife trafficking in East Africa is no longer focused only on elephants and rhinos. Criminal networks are increasingly targeting smaller species, including birds, reptiles, and primates, driven largely by demand from the international pet trade.

African grey parrots, grey crowned cranes, African fish eagles, and vipers are among the species being removed from the wild and transported across borders. In some cases, trafficking routes move through Uganda into South Sudan and the DRC before reaching markets in Europe and Asia.

According to Global Financial Integrity, wildlife trafficking generates up to US$23 billion annually in illicit financial flows.

International legal protections exist for many species. African grey parrots, for example, are listed under Appendix I of CITES, which prohibits international trade in wild-caught specimens. However, gaps in enforcement and regional compliance continue to be exploited by trafficking networks. South Sudan, for example, is not currently a member of CITES.

Border towns such as Ishasha and Mpondwe have become important transit points, exposing the challenges of enforcing wildlife laws across connected landscapes and international borders.

When rescued animals become evidence

As trafficking of live animals has increased, enforcement agencies have faced a different kind of challenge.

Animals are often transported in sacks or cartons and concealed inside vehicles crossing into neighbouring countries. When seizures occur, officers may have only minutes to safely secure animals that are injured, distressed, or at risk of escape.

Uganda previously lacked standardised systems for handling live wildlife seizures. Equipment was limited, training inconsistent, and confiscated animals were sometimes lost before they could be properly documented or rehabilitated.

"You lose the animals in the first five to ten minutes," said Moses Olinga, IFAW programme manager for Uganda and the Horn of Africa. "Poor handling weakens cases and reduces the chances of conviction. It is also a mode for disease transmission, especially zoonoses."

To address these gaps, the IFAW-INL partnership has delivered targeted training for more than 50 law enforcement personnel, including veterinary staff responsible for assessing and rehabilitating confiscated wildlife. The programme has also supplied 85 confiscation kits and specially designed cages to improve the safe handling and transport of rescued animals.