# Uganda's UN-Supported Wildlife Forensics Lab Turns Ivory Seizures Into Convictions > Uganda's lab uses DNA to turn ivory seizures into convictions. - Title: Uganda's UN-Supported Wildlife Forensics Lab Turns Ivory… - Summary: Uganda's lab uses DNA to turn ivory seizures into convictions. Uganda's wildlife forensics lab, supported by UNODC, uses DNA testing to convict poachers by… - Keywords: uganda, unodc, wildlife forensics, ivory, dna testing, poaching, trafficking, court, conservation, news, world, politics - Source: Allafrica — https://allafrica.com/stories/202610040089.html - Published: 2026-10-04T16:34:46+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: uganda, unodc, wildlife forensics, ivory, dna testing, poaching, trafficking, court, conservation, news, world, politics ## Ivory seizure in January 2025 Police intercepted a package in January 2025 containing 10 kilograms of thumb-sized ivory pieces. > The package originated in entebbe, uganda, bound for cairo, containing 10 kilograms of thumb-sized pieces that could have been either bone or elephant ivory ## UNODC-supported lab in Entebbe Uganda Wildlife Forensics and Timber Laboratory in Entebbe has been supported by UNODC since 2019. > The lab has been supported since 2019 by the un office on drugs and crime (unodc) ## DNA confirms ivory origin Scientists identified a distinctive cross-hatched pattern and confirmed ivory came from an elephant via dna testing. > Scientists found a distinctive cross-hatched pattern associated with elephant ivory. dna testing later confirmed that the material came from an elephant ## Arrested suspect Police arrested the sender after two months, finding additional ivory and warthog ivory at his residence. > Two months later, police arrested the man who sent the package. at his residence, investigators found additional elephant ivory, along with warthog ivory ## 15-year sentence Suspect received 15 years in prison or a fine equivalent to 140 million ugandan shillings (over $35,000). > He was charged with attempted trafficking and illegal possession and sentenced to 15 years in prison or a fine equivalent to 140 million ugandan shillings - or more than $35,000 usd ## Forensic evidence importance Forensic evidence helps identify animal products when traffickers remove identification features. > Poachers are removing identification features from wildlife carcasses to evade detection ## Uganda's wildlife trafficking hub Uganda is a significant hub for organized wildlife trafficking networks, especially elephant ivory and pangolin. > Evidence from the un's 2024 world wildlife report shows that uganda is as a significant hub of organised wildlife trafficking networks - especially of elephant ivory but also pangolin ## Lab opened in April 2025 Uganda Wildlife Forensics and Timber Laboratory opened in April 2025 with support from Denmark, EU, and UNODC. > In april, the uganda wildlife forensics and timber laboratory opened with support from denmark, the european union and unodc ## Lab builds on 2019 pilot The lab builds on a national training center established in 2019 with support from UNODC and TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network. > It builds on a national training and technical support centre established in 2019 as a pilot wildlife forensics facility through a partnership involving unodc, the trace wildlife forensics network and the ugandan government ## Seizure to analysis process Scientists photograph evidence before sampling, return original to police, and send sealed samples to lab for analysis. > Evidence is photographed before it is opened, and again after sampling. the original exhibit is returned to police custody, while sealed samples are transported to the lab for analysis ## Bushbucks case example In 2023, lab identified bushbucks from seized skins, heads, meat, and a fetus. > In one case in 2023, chiyo travelled about four hours north of kampala after a suspect was arrested with six skins, six heads, two sacks of meat, 24 hoofed legs and a fetus believed to be from wildlife ## Targeting wildlife crime Wildlife crime involves both organized criminal networks and communities facing economic hardship. > Wildlife crime is driven both by organised criminal networks and by local communities facing economic hardship ## Bushmeat market Uganda has a thriving market for poached bushmeat, with cases involving nearly a tonne of meat. > Although chiyo said uganda does not have a domestic market for ivory and pangolin scales, there is a thriving market for poached bushmeat. authorities have encountered cases involving nearly a tonne of meat ## Timber forensics expansion Lab expanded into timber forensics in April 2025 to address illegal logging. > The entebbe lab expanded into timber forensics in april, adding a new capability as uganda confronts the environmental consequences of illegal logging and timber trafficking ## Key takeaway Uganda's wildlife forensics lab, supported by UNODC, uses DNA testing to convict poachers by identifying ivory from seized items.