The Aviation Police at Entebbe International Airport, working closely with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), have successfully handed over a massive collection of confiscated wildlife exhibits that had been in custody since 2011. The handover took place on Friday, June 5, 2026, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s long-running fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.The exhibits were officially handed over by Superintendent of Police Irene Mugoya, representing the Commandant of Aviation Police, and received by Ms. Margaret Kasumba, the Assistant Commissioner for Law Enforcement at UWA.
The consignment includes a total of 8,857.84 kilograms of endangered and protected wildlife products, carefully preserved over the years following their seizure in joint security operations.The confiscated items include ivory in both raw and worked forms, pangolin scales, rhino horns, hippopotamus teeth, lion teeth, skins, and ostrich egg shells. Some of the items had been cleverly hidden in tins labelled as shea butter, showing the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by wildlife trafficking networks attempting to bypass airport security.Ms. Kasumba commended the coordinated efforts of all security agencies involved, noting that the exhibits had been properly inventoried and remained intact within the UWA records system.
She also observed that while a small portion of the seized products originated from within Uganda, the majority were traced to other countries, with Entebbe serving as a transit route.The successful interception and long-term safeguarding of these exhibits has been made possible through strengthened security systems at Entebbe International Airport, including the deployment of a canine unit in 2018. These enhancements have greatly improved detection capabilities and helped curb the movement of illegal wildlife products.The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) was also highly commended for its role in maintaining strong security, screening, and enforcement systems at the airport. Speaking on behalf of UCAA, Public Affairs Manager Vianney Luggya said:“This handover is a testament to the effectiveness of the security, screening and enforcement mechanisms in place at Entebbe International Airport to detect and intercept prohibited and illegally trafficked items.
It demonstrates the strong collaboration among the various government agencies responsible for safeguarding Uganda’s borders and protecting global wildlife resources. We wish to caution all individuals and criminal networks that may intend to use Entebbe International Airport as a transit point for illegal wildlife products or any other prohibited items that such attempts will be detected and dealt with in accordance with the law.
The airport’s surveillance, screening and enforcement systems remain robust, and offenders will face the full force of the law.”The handover stands as a strong example of inter-agency cooperation between Aviation Police, UWA, and UCAA, highlighting Uganda’s continued commitment to protecting wildlife and strengthening border security against illegal trafficking networks.
