The deployment of dogs at Entebbe International Airport has led to a significant drop in trafficking cases over the years As Uganda continues its efforts to combat wildlife crime, conservationists have urged the government to intensify the deployment of canine units in national parks and at international transit points throughout the country. The move is seen as critical to strengthening the fight against the illegal wildlife trade. The Chief Executive Officer of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Mr Kaddu Sebunya, emphasised the role of highly trained detection dogs in identifying contraband such as ivory, pangolin scales, and rhino horn, tools that have significantly enhanced enforcement capacity in Uganda. "Over the past nine years, these canine units have intercepted illegal wildlife products destined for international markets, supported intelligence-led enforcement actions that disrupted criminal networks, and created deterrence for traffickers simply by being visible and effective," Mr Sebunya said. He made the remarks during the official handover of Uganda's canine units based in Entebbe and the Karuma-Murchison Falls Conservation Area to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe on Tuesday. "This programme is not just a success story in Uganda. Across Africa, in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Cameroon, and Mozambique, the Canines for Conservation Programme has become a front-line defence against wildlife trafficking," he added. To further bolster enforcement, AWF has donated three additional trained dogs to enhance the capabilities of the Entebbe and Karuma units, bridging past investments with future efforts. The UWA Director of Field Operations, Mr Charles Tumwesigye, said the Canines for Conservation Programme, launched in 2016, was initiated in Detection dogs enhance fight against illegal wildlife trade response to Uganda's growing vulnerability to wildlife trafficking, an issue that had placed the country on the global red list.