Poaching remains one of the most pressing threats to wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park, with authorities reporting persistent illegal hunting, wire snares and encroachment into protected areas.
In a renewed push to curb wildlife crime, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has donated specialised enforcement equipment to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) at the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area in Kasese District.
The donated equipment includes a motorcycle to facilitate intelligence operations and rapid response, mobile field tents to support extended patrols, as well as video cameras and sound recorders to enhance surveillance and evidence gathering.
Park authorities say poachers continue to target animals for bushmeat and illegal trade, often using wire snares that indiscriminately trap wildlife, including antelopes, warthogs and even endangered species.
Rangers also face operational challenges such as limited mobility and inadequate field equipment, which can slow response to intelligence reports.
Eric Onyel, Chief Warden of Queen Elizabeth National Park, described the support as timely as rangers intensify operations against illegal activities.
“Poaching is still a serious challenge in this conservation area. We continue to recover snares and arrest suspects involved in illegal hunting. This equipment will greatly enhance our intelligence gathering, improve mobility for our teams and strengthen our ability to secure convictions through proper evidence collection,” Onyel said.
He noted that the motorcycle will improve access to hard-to-reach areas, while the surveillance equipment will help document crime scenes and build stronger case files for prosecution.
Moses Olinga, Programmes Manager at IFAW in Uganda and the Horn of Africa, said the donation forms part of a broader partnership focused on strengthening wildlife law enforcement and community engagement around protected areas.
“Our collaboration with UWA focuses on combating wildlife crime and supporting frontline rangers with the tools they need. Effective monitoring and documentation are critical in deterring poaching and ensuring offenders are held accountable,” Olinga said.
The Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area is one of Uganda’s most visited protected landscapes and is home to elephants, lions, buffaloes and numerous antelope species.
However, authorities cite continued pressure from surrounding communities, illegal grazing and the commercial bushmeat trade as ongoing threats that require sustained enforcement and multi-sector partnerships.
UWA believes the newly donated equipment will significantly boost field operations, strengthen intelligence-led patrols and reinforce efforts to safeguard wildlife for future generations.
