Uganda Revenue Authority has today handed over ivory worth 1 billion shillings to the Uganda Wild life Authority.
The 176 pieces of ivory were recovered together 189 pieces of hippo teeth and monitor lizards, worth 400 million shillings. The animal products were intercepted from traders who attempted to export them illegally.
The URA Assistant Commissioner in charge of enforcement James Kisare says the move is aimed at reducing poaching and illegal exportation of wild life products.
Kisare noted that many hippos and elephants have lost their lives to such illegal trade, leaving a negative mark on the country’s tourism sector.
A senior warden prosecutor with the Uganda Wildlife Authority Vincent Opinyi says they have partnered with URA to check illegal trade in animal products.