Uganda’s UN-supported lab turns ivory seizures into convictions

Uganda’s UN-supported wildlife forensics laboratory transformed a package interception into a 15-year prison sentence or a 140 million Ugandan shilling fine—equivalent to more than $35,000 USD—after DNA testing proved seized material belonged to an elephant. The facility, which operates in Entebbe, provides the concrete scientific proof needed to prosecute wildlife traffickers who routinely alter or dismember animal products to evade detection.

Detectives from the Uganda Police Force and investigators from the Uganda Wildlife Authority intercepted the suspicious package in January 2025. Authorities sent a sample to the Uganda Wildlife Forensics and Timber Laboratory, where scientists identified a distinctive cross-hatched pattern associated with elephant ivory. Subsequent DNA testing confirmed the material’s origin, enabling police to arrest the sender two months later. A search of the suspect’s residence uncovered additional elephant ivory alongside warthog ivory, leading to charges of attempted trafficking and illegal possession.

From Seizure to Forensic Analysis in Entebbe

The lab’s daily operations often begin far from its Entebbe headquarters, where officers seize bulky sacks containing ivory pieces, pangolin scales, or smoked bushmeat. Lab manager Patrick Chiyo explained that scientists travel directly to police stations to collect, photograph, and seal samples while returning the original exhibits to police custody for safe keeping. This meticulous chain of custody ensures that degraded or altered animal remains can still yield actionable evidence in court.

In a 2023 case, Mr. Chiyo traveled four hours north of Kampala after authorities arrested a suspect in possession of six skins, six heads, two sacks of meat, twenty-four hoofed legs, and a wildlife fetus. Because visual inspection could not confirm the exact species of the antelope-like skins, the team used DNA analysis to identify them as bushbucks, securing a three-year prison sentence after Mr. Chiyo testified.

Uganda Serves as Hub for Organized Wildlife Trafficking

Evidence cited in the UN’s 2024 World Wildlife Report identifies Uganda as a significant hub for organized wildlife trafficking networks dealing in elephant ivory and pangolin scales. Bashir Hangi of the Uganda Wildlife Authority noted that elephants, pangolins, primates, and select bird species are among the animals most threatened by illegal poaching. While some individuals hunt locally for household consumption, commercial trade poses the larger threat to conservation efforts, according to lab assessments.

The Uganda Wildlife Forensics and Timber Laboratory officially opened in April with backing from Denmark, the European Union, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. This new facility expands upon a pilot center established in 2019 through a partnership involving the Ugandan government, UNODC, and the TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network. Mr. Chiyo noted that the wildlife court increasingly mandates DNA reports, which has driven an observable increase in guilty pleas from defendants facing trial.

Mr. Chiyo emphasized that enforcement must reach individuals higher up in criminal networks who capture the bulk of the profits. Beyond criminal justice, experts maintain that addressing economic hardship and rural conflict near protected areas remains essential to reducing illegal trade.