By Sadique Bamwita
Entebbe
Entebbe International Airport Aviation Police (AVPOL), has finally handed over 8.86 tonnes of wildlife contraband that has been under protection in the Police stores for 14 years to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
While handing over the exhibits last week on Friday June 5,2026, Superintendent of Police (SP), Irene Mugoya, who represented the Commandant Aviation Police, revealed that the exhibits have been in the custody of Aviation Police Entebbe since 2011 after being confiscated through joint operations with UWA and other security agencies.
She revealed that the items handed over in total were 8857.84 kg of a wide range of endangered and protected wildlife products including ivory (both raw and worked), pangolin scales, rhino horns, hippopotamus teeth, skins, lion teeth and ostrich egg shells.
“Some of these items had been concealed in tins labelled as shea butter in an attempt to evade detection, highlighting the sophistication of wildlife trafficking networks” she said.
She noted that the strengthened security measures, including the deployment of a canine unit in 2018, have been helpful in curbing the vice.
Afande Mugoya extended her appreciation to UWA for responding positively to the request to take over the exhibits and commended the joint teams from UWA and Aviation Police, who conducted the inventory and confirmed that all exhibits were intact and properly accounted for.
The Assistant Commissioner for Law Enforcement at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Margaret Kasumba, who represented the UWA Executive Director, thanked the security agencies particularly the Aviation Police for having secured stock of all the impounded items as recorded in the UWA inventory system over the period.
It is reported that though a small portion of the seized items originated from within Uganda, the majority were traced to have originated from other countries and were attempting to use Entebbe as a transit route” she said.
The Spokesperson of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Vianney Lugya, said the handover is a testament to the effectiveness of the security, screening and enforcement mechanisms in place at the 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” he said.
He strongly cautioned 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” Lugya cautioned potential offenders.
