𝗨𝗪𝗔 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗯 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has deployed canine units at the Busia and Malaba border posts as part of intensified efforts to detect and prevent the illegal trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products.

The sniffer dogs are working alongside scanners, X-ray machines, and other security measures to inspect trucks and buses entering Uganda through the two major border crossings. The move is aimed at strengthening surveillance and making it more difficult for traffickers to transport illegal wildlife products across the country’s borders.

According to Abdallatif Mwanja, Head of UWA’s Canine Unit Department, the deployment is part of a broader strategy to curb wildlife crime through close collaboration with other security agencies.

“We have personnel all over who are helping, working in conjunction with the other security agencies to curb illegal wildlife trafficking,” Mwanja said.

He explained that canine teams are actively screening vehicles arriving at the border to detect wildlife products concealed in trucks and passenger buses. The operation is supported by a range of security technologies, including scanners and X-ray machines.

“We have all the security agencies alert to the task. We enhance, we have the scanners, we have the dogs, the X-ray,” he noted.

Mwanja emphasized that the combination of canine detection units and advanced screening equipment significantly increases the chances of intercepting trafficked wildlife products and discourages criminal networks from using Uganda’s border points.

“When we beef up that, we make life very difficult for people who would want to traffic wildlife products through the borders, or else they completely even stop,” he said.

UWA officials noted that illegal wildlife dealers often target border crossings to move wildlife products between countries. The heightened security operations at Busia and Malaba are intended to close those loopholes and strengthen protection for Uganda’s wildlife resources.

The increased security presence has also drawn attention from residents and business operators around the border areas, with many expressing interest in the enhanced efforts.

The deployment is part of wider initiatives by security agencies to reinforce monitoring at Uganda’s entry points and prevent the unlawful movement of wildlife and wildlife products.