The Uganda Wild Life Authority has been cleared of allegations that they have been trading ivory with Chinese diplomats.
This follows President Museveni’s letter ordering the Inspector General of Government to investigate wild life conservation body over alleged involvement in illegal ivory trade with Chinese diplomats in Uganda.
This now clears the UWA Executive Director Dr Andrew Seguya’s name who was supposed to be investigated as per the president’s initial directive.
The allegation had singled out Li Wejin and Yinzhi and other diplomats claiming that UWA was selling ivory to the Chinese before being shipped out of Uganda through Democratic Republic of Cong, Central Africa Republic and South Sudan.
It however emerged later that President Museveni’s remarks that threatened Uganda’s relations with China were based on fake intelligence.
China is one of the leading countries that fund Uganda’s infrastructure projects and reports indicate that China was not impressed.
“We have rigorous regulations and laws on governmental officials, embassy members, and visiting groups to forbid them from buying or engaging in activities,” Chinese media quoted the foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
Although the Chinese government was quick to dismiss the allegations, they had promised to investigate the matter and punish those involved in the illegal ivory trade.
Uganda apologizes
Meanwhile the Foreign Affairs Ministry through the Permanent Secretary Amb Patrick Mugoya has issued an apology to China stating that the man whose name was sited is not a recognized diplomat.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform all to whom it may concern that following a thorough review of its records, it has confirmed that both Mr. Li Wejin and Yinzhi are not accredited diplomats with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Uganda,” the statement from the ministry states.
the statement signed by Amb Mugoya adds that “The Ministry regrets the negative impact this incident may have caused to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.”