Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched a new forensics laboratory at UWEC in Entebbe that marks a turning point in the fight against forest crime in Uganda.
The facility aimed to uncover the truth through wildlife DNA and scientific evidence in the service of justice, thereby combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) and illegal logging and timber trafficking, which provide the definitive evidence needed to hold perpetrators accountable.
This milestone was achieved through collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment, and other relevant Ugandan institutions and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with funding from the European Union and technical support from TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, UK.
For too long, illegal timber trade which accounts for an estimated 80% of the country’s timber market has cost the economy nearly Shs 36.5 billion in lost tax revenue every year, while slashing forest cover from 24% in 1990 to just 13% in 2025.
Globally, wildlife and forest crime generates up to 28 billion USD annually, rivalling the profits of drugs, arms, and human trafficking.
Speaking at the launch, His Excellency Jan Sadek, the European Union Ambassador to Uganda, remarked that the inauguration of this lab is a clear signal to Uganda that wildlife and forest crime are treated as serious organized crime, and they will be investigated, prosecuted and punished.
“Until today, Uganda and the wider region had no dedicated forensic capacity to identify timber species, yet deforestation and the trafficking of protected timber are recognized as specialized forms of organized crime here and worldwide, together with other forms of wildlife crime, This illegal trade is estimated globally at up to 20 billion euros a year, placing it among the most lucrative transnational crimes, alongside drugs, arms and human trafficking which destroys biodiversity, accelerates climate change, corruption, threatens security and damages the cultural heritage of communities whose lives are rooted in their forests,” he said.
The European Union Ambassador further congratulated Uganda for this milestone because wildlife crime cases that Uganda Wildlife Authority could not previously prosecute due to lack of credible evidence are now being brought to court, and they are resulting in convictions which is a remarkable minds of milestone in Uganda’s fight against wildlife crime.
“This laboratory is also a powerful symbol of partnership, reflecting Uganda’s determination to protect its natural heritage and to confront environmental crime through strong institutions and the rule of law, and the commitment of the European Union and its member states, including Denmark to stand alongside Uganda in promoting sustainable development, conserving biodiversity, tackling climate change and addressing environmental try as a priority in our cooperation,” he noted.
According to Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu, the Chief Magistrate of the Uganda Wildlife Court, the laboratory will simplify their work while providing courts with results that will enable them to hold offenders accountable.
“Usually seizures will be done, and what is seized is sometimes not material that can be seen and understood by only seeing some of the ceased exhibits cannot be known. Now here science is going to tell us what they are, and that means the law becomes more effective because we are able to apply that science to tell that is what has been said by science. It is a protected species in Uganda and therefore whoever is suspected to have committed a crime relating to that particular exhibit may not go free, so it is science meeting the law and making the law afford better protection to nature,” she said.
David Musingo, the UWA Commissioner for Community Conservation and Ex-Situ Wildlife Services expressed gratitude for this facility, saying, “This laboratory is going to really give us a lot of mileage and support us with one life crime investigation, DNA sample preparations and court admissible evidence to support us in investigations and the prosecution of wildlife offenders.”
In addition, he noted that the laboratory will assist in providing information causing animals to come to the UWEC facility to reduce the costs because they spend a huge sum of money in terms of medication, and feeding tracks.
Uganda is an important source country and transit hub for wildlife trafficking in Africa. To combat the illegal wildlife trade (|WT) and illegal logging and timber trafficking, the Uganda Wildlife and Timber Forensic Laboratory (UWTFL) provides the definitive evidence needed to hold perpetrators accountable.
The forensic DNA analysis is used to bridge the gap between crime scenes and the courtroom, providing compelling scientific results to inform prosecutions.
By analyzing genetic material from plants or animals to accurately determine their species and sometimes their geographic origin, UWTFL delivers scientifically robust, court admissible evidence. The facility İs dedicated to ending the illegal trade in wild flora and fauna by conducting rigorous science to support legal excellence.
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