Today we join the rest of the world to celebrate Women’s Day. On this special day we celebrate all women around the world that have chosen to challenge all systems that have not only oppressed, exploited and left women marginalized but also all those systems that have led to animal abuse and exploitation. Let’s continue speaking out for animals.

In today’s national celebrations of World Wildlife Day in Uganda, our very own Gladys Kamasanyu was given an award for her outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation in Uganda. Gladys is the founder of Help African Animals and a magistrate at the Uganda Wildlife Court, the only specialized wildlife court in Africa. She was involved in the establishment of the court. Gladys has fearlessly adjudicated over many wildlife cases involving illicit wildlife products like elephant ivory, pangolin scales, live pangolins, hippopotamus teeth and others, forestry, and fish cases. We are grateful that the government of Uganda recognizes Gladys’ contribution in the fight against wildlife crime.

Uganda mourns death of Nandi, a 22 year old rhino. Nandi died of unknown natural causes on 28th February 2021 at the rhino sanctuary at Nakasongola. She has been referred to as the “mother of rhinos” at the sanctuary. Nandi was received at the sanctuary in 2006 from Disney Animal Kingdom. She gave birth to the first rhino at the sanctuary called Obama in 2009. Nandi has been ill for some time. In January 2021, she gave birth to a female calf called Achiru. Nandi was unfortunately, not able to feed her daughter due to illness. The calf was handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center for proper care. The calf sadly died ten(10) days later. The two deaths are a big blow to the Uganda Rhino Fund and the entire country. The death reduces the total number of rhinos at the sanctuary to 33 individuals. Rest In Peace Nandi.

We join the rest of the world to celebrate World Pangolin Day. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal on earth. Peaceful as they are, pangolins are heartlessly murdered for their meat and scales which are on high demand in China and other Asian countries where they are without proof believed to be medicinal. Despite the protection of pangolins by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which listed them as one of the most endangered animals hence banning all forms of commercial trade in pangolins, the illegal trade has continued to take place. Over 200,000 pangolins are killed every year. Pangolins are hence being pushed into extinction. Let’s join hands to protect the pangolins.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has commissioned a new canine unit at Karuma Wildlife Reserve.This will go a long way in improving investigations of wildlife cases in Uganda. This is another step to the right direction.

There were three elephants of different ages that were brutally murdered to obtain this ivory. The ivory was seized in northern Uganda. It must have been on its way to one of the Asian countries. The lives that were lost can not be got back. The pain occasioned onto the elephant families where the deceased elephants were members can not be explained. A human being that murders an elephant will not find it hard to commit similar offenses against fellow humans. The loss occasioned onto the African countries where the elephants lived is immense. The ecosystem where the elephants lived did not remain the same. These and many other reasons are why we need to raise our voices to protect lives of animals.