Court lifts ban on businessman's pangolin scales export license

By Andante Okanya

KAMPALA - Court has ordered that businessman Smith Ewa Maku be immediately granted an export license for all his stock of pangolin scales, worth billions of shillings.

Justice Elizabeth Musoke of the civil division of the High Court in Kampala dismissed a case filed by environmental lobby group Green Watch Uganda.

The case arose this year on January 23 when the lobby group sued Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) over purported illegal trade in endangered wildlife.

Green Watch had alleged that live pangolins are killed to fuel the lucrative trade.

They based their case on Maku's application to export 7,310kgs (about seven tonnes) of pangolin scales, valued at $4.2m (sh11b). It is part of stock owned by Maku, legally acquired from UWA stores.

But the judge dismissed the case, noting that Green Watch did not adduce any scientific data, and relied on inconclusive newspaper reports, which were speculative.

"I vacate the interim order and order that the license be given. The businessman can go ahead and export all his stock," the judge ordered.

The order in effect lifts the temporary ban imposed in March on UWA from issuing of the license, pending the dispose of the case.

The judgment was delivered in the presence of Maku. His legal team comprised of Richard Kabazzi, Joseph Kyazze, Anthony Kaweesi, and Iga Stephen.

UWA legal team comprised of Chemonges Sabilla, Ali Luzinda, and Annet Tuheisomwe, while Green Watch's lawyer was Samantha Atukunda.

On March 24, the judge allowed Maku to partner with UWA and battle Green Watch, after the businessman had petitioned court, asserting that his economic rights were under threat, because he had been excluded as a defendant. Read More

Source: newvision.co.ug

WIN UP TO $500,000 FOR SCIENCE AND TECH SOLUTIONS TO STAMP OUT WILDLIFE CRIME

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge to combat illegal wildlife trade. USAID invites organizations and individuals to submit innovative science and technology solutions to help combat the illegal trade in marine and terrestrial wildlife. Successful applicants could win up to $500,000 as well as technical assistance and networking opportunities to scale their solutions.

The Challenge, an initiative of USAID in partnership with National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and TRAFFIC, represents one component of USAID's efforts to support the President's Implementation Plan for the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, unveiled in 2014. 

"Today, our Agency is harnessing innovation, data, and public-private partnerships to both protect and manage the environment that supports us," said Acting USAID Administrator Alfonso Lenhardt. "The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge represents a groundbreaking effort to not only root out poaching and trafficking, but to strengthen the economic and national security of the world's most vulnerable people."

To match the growing scale, pace, and sophistication of wildlife trafficking, the competition will:

Include a three-phase open competition to identify the most promising and innovative ideas

Engage a talented community of solvers from all corners of the globe and all areas of expertise

Provide technical expertise and networking support to help successful applicants develop their solutions

Award Grand Prizes of up to $500,000 to help applicants scale their solution

The Challenge is looking for fresh perspectives from innovators around the world to stem the slaughter of wildlife. The application window opens today, and interested organizations or individuals will have ten weeks to complete a short Concept Note describing themselves, their solution, and how it might scale to achieve greater impact.

Applications must address at least one of four Challenge issues for which innovative science and technology solutions could offer immediate impact:

Detecting transit routes

Strengthening forensic evidence

Reducing consumer demand

Tackling corruption 

Judges will evaluate applications based on impact and scalability and invite those with the most promising Concept Notes to move forward in the competition. For more information on the Challenge, please visit our website: https://www.wildlifecrimetech.org.

Take the first step today - sign up to apply!

Apply: https://wildlifecrimetech.org/new_profile

Newsletter sign up: https://wildlifecrimetech.org/get_updates

About the Challenge Team

The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge is an initiative of USAID in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and TRAFFIC. The Challenge is being implemented on behalf of USAID and its partners by Integra LLC, with subcontractor support from PricewaterhouseCoopers Public Sector LLP and Sonjara, Inc.

Source: usaid.gov