Uganda Travel and Tourism News: URA to work with UWA to curb illegal poaching of wildlife

Elephants grazing at the Murchison Falls National park.They are targeted by poachers.

Ultimate Media

The Uganda Revenue Authority has impounded over 170 pieces of ivory, indicating continued threats to the lives of Uganda’s elephants.

URA recently carried out an operation on exporters in which they also recovered monitor lizards and 189 pieces of hippo teeth. All the items are believed to be from poaching on the wildlife.

The Uganda Revenue Authority today handed over the items estimated at about 400 million shillings to officials of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

 URA’s Assistant Commissioner in charge of enforcement, James Kisare said the exporters were intercepted following a tip off from informers.

Kisare says URA is becoming more vigilant to reduce illegal poaching and illegal exportation of prized wildlife parts.

He cited elephants and hippos among the targeted animals for their horns and teeth, which has in turn affected the tourism sector due to reduced numbers of the animals that many tourists would love to come over to see.

Uganda Wildlife Authority official, Vincent Opinyi says the authority will continue to work with URA to ensure that this illegal trade is curbed.