A businessman in Kampala, Peter Wasswa, is facing legal charges for the illegal possession of elephant ivory. The case is before the Buganda Road Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court Chief Magistrate Court.
Peter Wasswa appeared before the court on June 1, 2023, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawfully possessing 27.2 kilograms of ivory. The prosecution alleges that on May 30, 2023, Wasswa was found in possession of raw ivory without the required permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The charges brought against him are in violation of the Wildlife Act, 2019.
The possession of illegal wildlife products, such as ivory, carries significant legal consequences. According to the Wildlife Act, unlawful possession of ivory is punishable by life imprisonment, a fine of sh200 million, or both.
In a recent case, Pascal Ochiba was sentenced to life imprisonment on October 22, 2022, for the illegal possession of 9.55 kilograms of ivory. The court emphasized Ochiba’s prior offenses and involvement in ivory trading when handing down the sentence.
Elephant poaching for ivory remains a major threat to their survival. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has identified ivory trafficking as the fourth largest transnational crime. In 2012, approximately 35,000 elephants were killed in Africa for their tusks, mainly due to inadequate law enforcement.
The court has remanded Wasswa to Luzira prison until June 7, 2023, when a hearing for his bail application will take place. The prosecution has informed the court that they have completed their inquiries and are ready to proceed with the trial.
