National strategy to combat poaching, illegal trade and trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products 2020-2029.

The National strategy to combat poaching, illegal trade and trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products is a national sectoral strategy of Uganda for the period 2020-2029. With the underlying mission of making wildlife resources sustainably contributing to national development, the strategy's main objective is to significantly reduce poaching, illegal trade and trafficking in Wildlife and Wildlife products in the Country.
The Strategy aims to provide strategies and measures for strengthening national performance in combating poaching, illegal trade and trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products within the country and across Uganda’s borders.
In addition, the Strategy aims to develop capacity and enhance coordination and collaboration of line institutional Agencies & other Stake holders to combat PITT.
The goal of this Strategy will be realised through the following strategic objectives, which will be implemented through strategic interventions. 1. To reduce poaching of key wildlife species in Uganda. The Strategy for combating PITT will be implemented through strategic interventions. a. To reduce poaching of key wildlife species in Uganda. Strategic interventions will consist in: 1. Strengthen institutional capacities for protecting targeted species and their habitats; 2. Strengthen approaches for enhancing civic and community participation in combating poaching; 3. Mitigate drivers of poaching (demand, animosity).
2. To enhance capacity for law enforcement and surveillance on illegal trade and trafficking. Strategic interventions will consist in: a. Install equipment, technologies and facilities for surveillance and monitoring PITT among enforcement and regulatory agencies; b. Increase deployment of personnel and other technological facilities for law enforcement, regulation and prosecution; c. Train and equip law enforcement personnel with skills for detection and identification of wildlife specimens and for prosecution; d. Strengthen accountability measures for confiscated wildlife and wildlife products and specimens; e. Identify and monitor in country commercial outlets, market and transit routes for wildlife products; f. Develop and implement measures for improving compliance assistance; g. Strengthen the capacity of CITES Management and Scientific Authorities.
3. To promote inter-agency, cross border and stakeholder collaboration. Strategic interventions will consist in: a. Strengthen mechanisms for gathering, management and sharing intelligence information; b. Strengthen mechanisms and capacity for effective wildlife crime investigation; c. Undertake research and share information on PITT; d. Strengthen inter-agency collaboration in law enforcement and handling of offenders; e. Establish and strengthen mechanisms for promoting cross border collaboration and joint operations under auspices of EAC, AU, etc.; f. Develop and enforce regulations and procedures for handling offenders and handling exhibits and confiscated specimens; g. Strategic engagement of source and destination countries of wildlife and wildlife products; h. Strengthen national capacity in fulfilling obligations to regional and international protocols, agreements and conventions; i. Develop and implement mechanisms to strengthen Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition of wildlife crime suspects; l. Promote civic engagement and collaboration with non-State actors.
The Strategy will be implemented by Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and Uganda Wildlife Authority in collaboration with mandated institutions and stakeholders. Due to the transnational nature of wildlife trafficking, Government will seek to engage other regional organizations and partners involved in the fight against poaching and wildlife trafficking.
The Resources Mobilization Strategies guide efforts to mobilize both financial and technical resources to support implementation of the National Strategy to combat Poaching, Illegal Trade and Trafficking (PITT) of wildlife and wildlife products. Specifically, the guidance is provided on i) identification of funding and technical resources required to implement the National Strategy for combating PITT, and, ii) Strategies to mobilize the identified resources, and iii) institutional roles in resources mobilization and utilization.