Kenya and Uganda told to share Intelligence Information on Wildlife trafficking

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO 

The Director Conservation at the Uganda Wildlife Authority John Masambo has asked Law Enforcement Officer from Uganda and Kenya to build strong Working relationship this will help the two Countries to mitigate Illegal Wildlife Trade across the border.

 The Director noted that fighting Illegal Wildlife trade between Uganda and Kenya is still big challenge because the enforcement officers are not sharing Intelligence Information which has enabled the business to progress.

Masambo made the appeals at Hotel Africana where he was opening a one week Training workshop for Security personnel’s from Uganda and Kenya, Migration officers, customs, Civil Aviation personnel among other stakeholder s in the fight against Illegal Wild Life trade.

Masambo (M) haring light of moment with IFAW head of programs Steve Njumbi

“We need to combat Illegal Wildlife trade between the two countries; the only way to achieve it is through creating good working relationship among the security, migrations and customs officer at the border points between Uganda and Kenya because that is where most of the transaction are being carried out  by the dealers “He said.

The objective of the training is to equip the Security personnel with Skills on how to detect Illegal Wildlife products which on many occasion they are concealed in lag ages by the dealers who are on transit from Uganda to Kenya and vice versa .The training is being conducted by UWA in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal welfare (IFAW).

Masambo  observed that the two Countries are losing Billions of revenue from Tourism sector due to the rampant poaching of Wildlife yet if the Animals are protected the Countries can earn  more foreign exchange  from the tourism sector.

participants in Group photo

According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora report released in 2013 , Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania were ranked as  the sources for  Illegal wildlife Trade in Africa with China and Thailand being the leading destination for  Ivory from East Africa and Africa in large.

According to Information available Malaba and Busia are the leading border points where Ivory smuggling is at high rate other entries are the International Airports   such as Entebbe in Uganda.  Uganda earns about USD1.4 billion dollars from the tourism sector but the sector is challenged with the high Incidences of wildlife poaching if it’s not contained, it will lead to Uganda losing the Economic benefits associated with tourism such as the 1.17 million jobs that the sector is offering to Ugandans.

 Steve Njumbi, the Head of programs at IFAW cautioned the two countries to invest more resources in combating illegal wildlife trade, he said that  IFAW is committed to work with the two countries to ensure that wildlife is protected  from traffickers.