President Museveni calls on European Union Environment to close Europe’s domestic Ivory trade

President Yoweri Museveni has called on the European Union Environment Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, to close Europe’s domestic trade in ivory, end all ivory exports and support efforts to ban the global ivory trade.

The President noted that Uganda is one of the few countries that still host African elephants.

In a message of support to a petition in support of international calls to the European Union to end ivory trade, President Museveni told the European Environment Commissioner that as Europe has led the fight against illegal poaching, those European efforts are being undermined by the continued legal trade in ivory in the European Union countries.

President Museveni further said that in the context of China announcing its ban on ivory, Europe should show leadership and do all it can to prevent elephants being driven into extinction.