Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has clarified its position on the sale of bushmeat in Uganda following growing public concern sparked by a viral social media debate questioning how restaurants can serve wild meat while conservation agencies work to protect wildlife populations.
The discussion gained momentum after an X user raised concerns about a restaurant allegedly selling bushmeat, arguing that demand for wild meat could fuel poaching and undermine conservation efforts.
Responding to the concerns during an appearance on UBC TV, UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi said the restaurant at the centre of the debate is operating legally under a wildlife utilisation licence issued by the authority.
“The law provides for sustainable wildlife utilization, and it provides for wildlife user rights classes,” Dr. Musinguzi said. “Any individual in Uganda is free to come and carry out sustainable wildlife utilization using the different classes of wildlife user rights that have been established.”
He explained that Uganda’s wildlife laws permit regulated activities including wildlife trade, ranching, farming, tourism, recreation, and, under specific conditions, keeping certain wildlife species as pets.
Addressing the restaurant that sparked the online debate, Dr. Musinguzi emphasised that the establishment was authorised to import wild meat rather than source it from Uganda’s wildlife populations.
“The restaurant being talked about, and I want to look into the camera, was licensed to import wild meat. This is not meat that is got within Uganda. No. It is wild meat that is imported from South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana,” he said.
According to Dr. Musinguzi, UWA authorised the restaurant to import up to 800 kilogrammes of wild meat during 2026 and has mechanisms in place to monitor the shipments from entry points into the country.
“For example, we licensed that restaurant to import 800 kilograms of meat for the whole year of 2026, and we monitor that all through the border as they bring it,” he added.
The clarification comes amid increasing calls from conservationists for stronger action against illegal wildlife trade and the markets that create demand for poached animals.
Dr. Musinguzi also highlighted a major milestone in Uganda’s fight against wildlife crime, revealing that the country now has a Wildlife DNA Forensic Laboratory capable of identifying animal species and tracing the origin of suspected wildlife products.
The facility is expected to strengthen wildlife crime investigations, improve enforcement efforts and support prosecutions by providing scientific evidence in court.
Conservation experts note that while protection efforts inside Uganda’s national parks have intensified over the years, illegal hunting outside protected areas remains a challenge. They argue that reducing demand for illegally sourced bushmeat remains critical to safeguarding wildlife populations and preserving conservation gains.
The latest debate has reignited broader discussions about balancing sustainable wildlife utilisation, which is permitted under Ugandan law, with the need to curb illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking.
UWA maintains that licensed and regulated wildlife products differ significantly from illegally sourced bushmeat and insists that strict monitoring systems are in place to ensure compliance with conservation laws.
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