United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) have fulfilled part of their mandate of building the Uganda Government’s institutional capacity to help reduce and eventually stop wildlife crime. Today (20th July 2022), five (05) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) kits were donated to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Mr. Mugisa Jimmy the Acting Executive Director of UWA received the kits from Mr. Senkungu Robert the Program Manager of AWF. The handover was witnessed by Mr Kiirya Isaac the Uganda Program Manager WCS, as well as several staff members of UWA including Mr Tumwesigye Charles the Deputy Director of Field Operations and Major Karamaji Joshua the Manager of the Wildlife Crime Investigations.
Mr. Mugisa appreciated AWF, WCS and USAID for their continued support in helping combat wildlife crime in Uganda while noting that it depletes resources and affects tourism and the environment. He pledged to use all legal means necessary to continue the fight and emphasised that the kits would go a long way in helping gather evidence to aid such cases.
Mr. Senkungu also pledged further support from AWF, especially in building manpower that can effectively use these kits and other crime scene tools and techniques.
On behalf of WCS, Mr. Kiirya acknowledged confidence in the ability of UWA to fight wildlife crime. This confidence highlighted why they are building the institution’s capacity to effectively undertake its mandate.
The crime scene kits are expected to enhance the capacity of UWA in the management of Wildlife crime scenes and support the prosecution of suspects by producing credible evidence in the courts of law.
The original report of this donation can be found on the UWA website here, for posterity purposes, the original article also follows.
UWA RECEIVES CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION KITS FROM PARTNERS
Uganda Wildlife Authority has today received five (05) CSI Kits for combating wildlife crime activities. The donation was from USAID, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). This was in fulfillment of the partner’s mandate of building the Uganda Government’s institutional capacity to stop wildlife crime.
The Kits were received by Mr. Jimmy Mugisa Ag. Executive Director UWA from Mr.Robert Sekungu Program Manager AWF. The handover was witnessed by Mr. Isaac Kiirya Projects Manager IWT/CWT, WCS Uganda Program, Mr. Charles Tumwesigye Deputy Director Field Operations UWA, and Major Joshua Karamagi Manager Wildlife Crime Investigation among others.
While receiving the kit, Ag Executive Director Mr. Jimmy Mugisa appreciated AWF and WCS for their continued support in fighting wildlife crime in Uganda. He said that wildlife crime depletes our wildlife resources and it should be fought using all legal means possible. He expressed optimism that the kits will improve on the management of crime scenes leading to the successful prosecution of suspects in the courts of law.
Mr. Robert Senkungu pledged further support from the African Wildlife Foundation towards building UWA’s capacity to fight wildlife crime and urged UWA to use the kits properly to avoid losing cases in the courts of law due to poor handling of crime scenes.
On behalf of WCS, Mr. Isaac Kiirya said that they have confidence in the ability of UWA to fight wildlife crime and that is why they are building the institution’s capacity to effectively undertake its mandate.
The crime scene kits will enhance the capacity of UWA the in management of Wildlife crime scenes and support the prosecution of suspects by producing credible evidence in the courts of law.
