The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Lino Anguzu, together with senior management from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), is undertaking a two-day retreat in the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (QECA) aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration in the fight against wildlife crime and advancing conservation justice.
The retreat, hosted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), seeks to deepen the ODPP’s understanding of conservation operations while enhancing coordination in the prosecution and supervision of wildlife-related cases handled by UWA prosecutors.
On behalf of the Executive Director of UWA, the Commissioner for Legal and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Chemonges Sabila, welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of continued cooperation between the two institutions in strengthening wildlife law enforcement and protecting Uganda’s natural heritage.
The ODPP team was later briefed by the Chief Warden of QECA, Mr. Kisame Fred Elia, on the status of conservation and law enforcement operations in the area. The briefing highlighted notable progress in wildlife crime prosecution, including the successful conclusion of 40 cases involving 64 accused persons, 28 cases involving 49 convicts, and 12 ongoing cases involving 15 accused persons at various stages of prosecution.
Officials noted an improvement in conviction rates, attributing it to strengthened enforcement mechanisms and improved coordination between investigative and prosecutorial agencies.
Under existing arrangements, the DPP licenses selected UWA prosecutors to handle wildlife crime cases, particularly in high-risk conservation zones such as QECA, which remains one of Uganda’s key wildlife crime hotspots.
The retreat is expected to provide the ODPP delegation with deeper insight into field operations, enforcement challenges, and the complexities of wildlife protection, with the broader aim of reinforcing Uganda’s commitment to safeguarding biodiversity through stronger inter-agency collaboration.