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By Spy Uganda
Uganda has taken a major step in the fight against environmental crime with the official launch of a state-of-the-art Wildlife and Timber Forensic Laboratory in Entebbe, giving investigators powerful scientific tools to combat poaching, wildlife trafficking and illegal logging.
The upgraded facility, housed at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC), was inaugurated last month and expands Uganda’s forensic capabilities beyond wildlife crime to include timber analysis, enabling authorities to trace protected tree species and strengthen prosecutions against environmental offenders.
The laboratory uses advanced forensic techniques, including DNA profiling, to transform seized wildlife and timber specimens into court-admissible evidence.
This technology allows investigators to link ivory, pangolin scales, rare timber and other confiscated materials to specific crime scenes and suspects, significantly improving the chances of successful prosecution and helping dismantle transnational criminal networks that profit from the destruction of natural resources.
The initiative also supports Uganda’s obligations under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the global treaty that governs trade in endangered plants and animals.
The laboratory builds on work that began in 2019 when the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), working with the TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, established a pilot wildlife forensics facility in Uganda.
Since then, the lab has evolved into a national technical hub, supporting hundreds of investigations and prosecutions related to the illegal wildlife trade.
Its recent expansion was funded through a UNODC project titled Combating Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Uganda through the Criminal Justice System, supported by the European Union under the EU–Uganda Forest Partnerships Programme and with additional backing from Denmark.
The new timber forensics capability comes at a critical time for Uganda, where forest cover has shrunk dramatically over the past three decades.
According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda’s forest cover has declined from 24 percent in 1990 to approximately 13 percent in 2025, threatening biodiversity, rural livelihoods and the country’s resilience to climate change.
Officials say illegal logging and timber trafficking are increasingly linked to organized criminal networks, making scientific enforcement tools essential.
Speaking at the launch, Giovanni Broussard, Africa Coordinator for UNODC’s Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment, said the laboratory would help close critical evidence gaps and ensure those exploiting nature for illegal profit are brought to justice.
EU Ambassador to Uganda Jan Sadek described the facility as “a powerful investment in science, justice and sustainability.”
“This laboratory represents a powerful investment in science, justice and sustainability. By supporting forensic capacity, the European Union is helping Uganda protect its forests and wildlife, safeguard local livelihoods, and uphold the rule of law against environmental crime,” he said.
Bob Kazungu, Assistant Commissioner for Forestry, said science-based enforcement would be a game changer in protecting Uganda’s natural resources and stopping illegal logging at its source.
The importance of forensic science to the justice system was underscored by Gladys Kamasanyu.
“When science is applied to the law, the law becomes a more powerful tool for conservation,” she said.
“The forensic laboratory is critical to the criminal justice system, significantly enhancing the ability to hold offenders accountable by providing objective, scientifically validated evidence and to protect Uganda’s natural heritage for future generations.”
The laboratory has been relocated to UWEC’s National Wildlife Hospital and Quarantine Centre, where upgraded facilities now meet international forensic standards and offer enhanced security and specialized equipment.
For Uganda, the new Wildlife and Timber Forensic Laboratory represents more than a scientific achievement. It is a strategic weapon in the fight to protect endangered species, preserve forests and ensure that those who profit from environmental destruction are brought before the law.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/game-over-for-poachers-as-uganda-launches-high-tech-wildlife-timber-forensics-lab/
