Anti-Poaching in Uganda: Wildlife Crime and Conservation in 2026

Last reviewed August 2026. Conservation data changes — see the cited sources for the latest figures.

Quick answer: Anti-poaching in Uganda is shifting from patrol-led protection alone towards connected wildlife-crime enforcement: intelligence operations, digital databases, forensic science, GIS, drones, stronger prosecutions, community partnerships and cooperation with neighbouring countries. Uganda has recorded a major long-term reduction in illegal elephant killing, but wildlife trafficking, porous borders, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and alleged abuses by enforcement personnel continue to threaten conservation progress .

Why anti-poaching matters in Uganda

Uganda is a biologically important country whose protected-area network includes 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves and montane forests. Its landscapes range from the Albertine Rift forests to the savannahs of Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo Valley, while the Nile and Uganda’s lakes connect wildlife conservation with the livelihoods of millions of people .

That variety makes Uganda an important wildlife safari destination, but it also creates a complex enforcement task. Conservation authorities must protect elephants, lions, giraffes, chimpanzees, gorillas, hippos, antelopes, pangolins and other species across forests, wetlands, rivers and large savannah parks. Wildlife crime is not limited to killing animals: illegal fishing, bushmeat hunting, snare-setting, trafficking in ivory and live animals, timber trafficking, habitat encroachment and unauthorised entry into protected areas are all part of the wider problem .

The history of insecurity and economic disruption has also shaped Uganda’s conservation challenges. In Murchison Falls National Park, decades of war followed by the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency severely damaged wildlife and communities; later recovery required both Uganda Wildlife Authority protection and support from conservation organisations such as the Uganda Conservation Foundation and the International Elephant Foundation .

The main threats to wildlife in Uganda

Ivory trafficking and elephant poaching

Elephants remain a central focus of anti-poaching work. African savanna elephants are classified as endangered, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that more than 60% of the population was lost from 1965 onwards. Although ivory poaching has traditionally been the dominant threat, agriculture, habitat conversion and human-elephant conflict are now also major pressures .

Uganda’s long-term trend is encouraging but does not mean the threat has disappeared. Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants data reported by UNEP indicates that the proportion of illegally killed elephants in Uganda fell by more than 90% from its 2011 peak. UNEP also reports that the continental decline was approximately 30%, showing that Uganda’s improvement has been particularly substantial .

Recent intelligence-led cases illustrate the continuing risk. The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit reported a March 2026 operation in eastern Uganda that seized 103 kilograms of ivory and disrupted a suspected trafficking network. A separate June 2026 operation in Kapelebyong District involved ivory believed to have come from four young elephants . Seizures are evidence of enforcement activity, not a measure of all wildlife crime; trafficking networks can adapt, and a seizure may represent only one part of a larger supply chain.

Snares, bushmeat and opportunistic hunting

Wire snares are a persistent threat in parks such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls. They can kill or injure animals indiscriminately, including species that were not the hunter’s intended target. IFAW documents recovered snares in Queen Elizabeth National Park and describes continuing pressure from wildlife demand, regional insecurity and porous borders .

Bushmeat hunting is often connected to household income, food security and established local networks rather than to international trafficking alone. A conservation response that removes snares without addressing livelihoods, access to legal income and relationships between communities and park authorities is unlikely to deliver lasting results. The Scouts Programme supported by the Uganda Conservation Foundation was designed around this challenge in Murchison Falls, recruiting people from poaching families and seeking to break intergenerational patterns of illegal activity .

Trafficking in live animals and other wildlife products

Uganda’s location in East and Central Africa exposes it to transnational trafficking routes. International demand for live wild animals, ivory and other wildlife products can move through airports, roads and borders, while animals and products may pass through more than one country before reaching a buyer . The 2026 Uganda Wildlife Trafficking Assessment by the Wildlife Conservation Society reflects the need to understand these networks at national level, although the research provided here does not state its findings or a national trafficking total .

Wildlife crime also includes timber trafficking. In 2026, the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit reported Operation Elysium against an organised timber-trafficking network, showing that forest crime and wildlife crime can overlap in the same enforcement landscape .

Habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict

Poaching is only one part of the conservation picture. Agricultural expansion, habitat degradation and human-wildlife conflict can reduce wildlife populations even when illegal killing declines. UNEP identifies agricultural development and associated human-elephant conflict as major contributors to elephant decline alongside ivory poaching .

Communities living beside protected areas may face crop losses, livestock predation, restrictions on access to natural resources and personal safety risks. These costs can weaken public support for conservation if they are not recognised and addressed. Uganda Wildlife Authority’s stated approach therefore includes community conservation, environmental education, habitat restoration and efforts to ensure conservation contributes to community well-being .

Climate, insecurity and enforcement risks

The supplied research does not provide a national 2026 statistic that isolates climate change as a cause of wildlife crime in Uganda. However, changing water availability, food resources and seasonal conditions can intensify competition between people and wildlife, while regional insecurity and porous borders make coordinated enforcement harder. IFAW identifies porous borders, regional instability and sustained international demand as continuing drivers of trafficking .

Enforcement must also respect the rule of law and human rights. An investigation by InfoNile reported allegations of extrajudicial killings and unlawful methods during anti-poaching operations around Nwoya and Murchison Falls National Park. These allegations require transparent investigation; conservation outcomes cannot justify unlawful violence, and public trust is essential to reliable intelligence and community cooperation .

What Uganda is doing to combat wildlife crime

Uganda Wildlife Authority and ranger protection

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the central government institution responsible for wildlife conservation and management in Uganda. Its work includes law enforcement, protected-area management, community conservation, environmental education and tourism development . Rangers patrol difficult terrain, remove snares, gather field intelligence, monitor wildlife and respond to incidents. Non-government partners support this work with ranger facilities, vehicles, communications equipment, training and morale-building programmes .

Support is distributed across important landscapes. The Uganda Conservation Foundation identifies work with UWA in Kidepo Valley National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, including ranger support, infrastructure, veterinary capacity and community development . Conservation partners have also supported marine ranger stations and veterinary facilities, recognising that protection must cover lakes, rivers and wildlife corridors as well as land patrols .

Intelligence, investigations and prosecution

Modern anti-poaching increasingly targets the people who finance, organise and transport wildlife products, not only the person found with a snare or tusk. The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit’s 2026 operations demonstrate the use of intelligence, targeted arrests and seizures in ivory-trafficking investigations . IFAW’s CARE Project, sponsored by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Room to Roam initiative have worked with Ugandan authorities to improve coordination, prosecutions and cross-border responses .

Digital case management is another important development. With USAID support, Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Online Wildlife Offenders Database was upgraded in financial year 2023. The system includes an offline version, a fingerprint module for identifying repeat offenders and a mobile application; 31 Ugandan officials were trained to manage and use it. The same programme documented 368 wildlife-crime prosecutions and 278 convictions in Uganda, although the research does not specify the relevant case period or explain how those cases were distributed among species and offences .

Technology and data-led patrols

Technology is becoming part of Uganda’s operational toolkit. USAID-supported work provided digital radios, digital mapping, real-time monitoring of ranger movements and threats, expanded SMART data functions and mobile applications for rangers and community members. Solar systems were installed at remote patrol outposts and UWA park headquarters to support access to SMART data .

UWA’s Strategic Plan for 2026–2030 explicitly identifies drones, forensic science, GIS and digital systems as tools for strengthening anti-poaching, wildlife protection and conservation management. The plan also links enforcement with habitat restoration, community conservation and institutional capacity rather than presenting technology as a stand-alone solution .

Cross-border cooperation

Wildlife does not stop at national boundaries. In April 2026, senior Ugandan government officials travelled to Tanzania to exchange conservation lessons and strengthen a cross-border partnership. Uganda returned with plans to adopt digital wildlife-crime monitoring tools, develop community livelihood programmes such as beekeeping in the Kidepo landscape and improve inter-agency coordination for anti-poaching work .

Transboundary cooperation is especially important in the Albertine Rift and other landscapes where animals, traffickers and criminal networks can cross borders. Gorilla conservation provides a clear example: the International Gorilla Conservation Programme coordinates conservation management among Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including information sharing and aligned management approaches .

Community conservation and tourism’s role

Communities are not an optional addition to anti-poaching. They are neighbours, land users, potential informants, tourism employees and people who experience the costs of living beside wildlife. Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Community Conservation Policy and wider institutional mandate emphasise community involvement and conservation benefits . Livelihood ideas under discussion in the Kidepo landscape include beekeeping, while the Murchison Scouts Programme links former poaching families with a conservation role .

Tourism can help when revenue and employment support protected-area management and local economies. UNEP reported that, after borders reopened following the pandemic, tourism revenue began flowing back into parks and contributed to greater anti-poaching capacity; a UWA ranger quoted by UNEP said this helped bring poaching rates down but warned that the effort could not be relaxed . The research does not provide a current national percentage showing exactly how much safari revenue reaches each community or park, so visitors should ask operators and lodges how their partnerships work.

Travellers can book conservation-supporting safaris on SafariFind, including trips to landscapes such as Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale. Responsible tourism does not replace public funding or enforcement, but it can support legitimate local employment, park operations and the economic case for keeping wildlife habitats intact .

Results and setbacks: a balanced 2026 assessment

Area	What the research shows	What remains unresolved
Elephant protection	Illegal killing in Uganda fell by more than 90% from its 2011 peak, according to UNEP’s summary of MIKE data .	Ivory trafficking operations and new seizures in 2026 show that organised crime remains active .
Prosecution	USAID-supported partners documented 368 prosecutions and 278 convictions in Uganda .	The supplied research does not provide conviction rates, sentencing patterns or a 2026 national total .
Technology	OWODAT, SMART, digital mapping, ranger movement monitoring, drones, GIS and forensic science are part of the evolving toolkit .	Technology requires reliable power, training, maintenance, data governance and coordination between agencies .
Community relations	Beekeeping, community conservation and the Scouts Programme provide models for linking livelihoods with protection .	Reported allegations of unlawful violence around Murchison Falls underline the need for accountability and trust .

The overall conclusion is neither that Uganda has defeated poaching nor that enforcement has failed. The country has achieved measurable progress, particularly in reducing illegal elephant killing, and is building a more sophisticated system for investigations and data management. At the same time, wildlife crime remains adaptive, habitat pressures continue, and conservation agencies must demonstrate that enforcement is lawful, transparent and beneficial to neighbouring communities .

How travellers can help responsibly

• Choose regulated operators and protected areas. Ask whether your safari operator works with licensed accommodation, UWA-authorised activities and local guides.
• Do not buy wildlife products. Avoid ivory, skins, claws, teeth, feathers, live animals and suspicious timber products. Demand drives the trafficking networks that enforcement agencies are trying to disrupt .
• Respect park rules. Stay with your guide, remain in designated areas and never encourage a driver to chase, crowd or bait wildlife.
• Support local services. Use community-owned or locally employing guides, buy legitimate crafts and select lodges that can explain their conservation and community partnerships.
• Keep sensitive information private. Do not publish exact locations of nesting sites, gorilla groups, rhino or other vulnerable animals where disclosure could increase risk.
• Report suspicious activity safely. Use official channels or ask your guide or lodge manager for the appropriate authority; never confront suspected wildlife criminals yourself.

For travellers planning a gorilla visit, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest trekking guide explains the tourism context around one of Uganda’s most closely protected landscapes. The wider principle is simple: visit responsibly, spend locally, follow wildlife rules and treat conservation staff and communities with respect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Uganda doing to stop poaching in 2026?

Uganda is combining ranger patrols with intelligence-led investigations, digital wildlife-crime databases, SMART monitoring, GIS, drones, forensic science, community conservation and cross-border cooperation .

Has elephant poaching decreased in Uganda?

Yes. UNEP reports that the proportion of illegally killed elephants in Uganda fell by more than 90% from its 2011 peak, although 2026 ivory seizures show that trafficking remains a threat .

Which organisation leads anti-poaching in Uganda?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority leads wildlife conservation and protected-area management, working with the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit, government agencies, communities and conservation partners .

What is the Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit?

The Uganda Wildlife Crime Unit conducts intelligence-led wildlife-crime operations, including investigations into ivory trafficking and seizures of illegal wildlife products .

How does technology help anti-poaching in Uganda?

Digital radios, mapping, SMART applications, ranger-movement monitoring, offender databases, fingerprints, drones, GIS and forensic science help authorities record incidents, coordinate patrols and investigate cases .

What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Uganda besides poaching?

Major additional threats include habitat loss, agricultural expansion, human-wildlife conflict, illegal fishing, timber trafficking, regional insecurity and international demand for wildlife products .

How does tourism support anti-poaching in Uganda?

Tourism revenue can return to parks and help fund conservation operations, while tourism creates legal employment and economic incentives for protecting wildlife. The exact financial benefit varies by park and programme .

Is it safe and ethical to go on a wildlife safari in Uganda?

A safari can be responsible when travellers use regulated operators, follow park rules, avoid wildlife-product purchases, respect communities and do not interfere with animals or ranger operations .

How can visitors help Uganda’s wildlife?

Visitors can spend with local businesses, choose operators that explain community partnerships, follow wildlife-viewing rules, avoid wildlife products and report suspicious activity through safe official channels .

Are Uganda’s anti-poaching methods always lawful?

No enforcement system should be assumed to be free of abuse. InfoNile reported allegations of extrajudicial killings and unlawful methods around Murchison Falls, highlighting the need for investigation, accountability and lawful conservation enforcement .