Uganda has become a major transit country for illegal wildlife trade in East Africa. According to the Daily Monitor, the East African nation is a member of the “Gang of Eight” countries, these are countries most responsible in illegal ivory trafficking.
The United States government has made a pledge to assist Uganda in ending wildlife trafficking.
“Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion dollar, black market industry that threatens global security, undermines rule of law, fuels corruption, and hampers economic development. It has significant effects on the national interests of the United States, Uganda, and our partners around the world,” said Ms Deborah R. Malac, the US Ambassador to Uganda, during a Wildlife trafficking meeting in Uganda.
A partnership between the US mission in Uganda, wildlife trade monitoring network (TRAFFIC) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has formed the first Uganda Wildlife Trafficking team that will assess the trends of wildlife crime in Uganda and set priority actions in combating wildlife trafficking nationally.
“Uganda is currently at a crossroads—both figuratively, as its wildlife faces poaching pressure, and geographically, as a key transit country for wildlife contraband.” Said Julie Thompson, TRAFFIC East Africa coordinator
