Uganda apologizes to China over ivory smuggling scandal

Uganda has apologized to China after its president mistakenly accused two Chinese "diplomats" of involvement in illegal ivory trafficking.

File photo taken on June 5, 2014 shows Kenyan police officers check 302 pieces of ivory, including 228 elephant tusks seized in a warehouse during a raid in the port city of Mombasa. [File photo: Xinhua]

The country's foreign affairs ministry made the apology in a statement on Monday, saying it regrets the negative impact the incident may have caused on the Chinese embassy as there were no such persons accredited as diplomats with the embassy.

On May 2, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni sent a letter to chief prosecutor Irene Mulyagonja ordering her to investigate a case in which the "diplomats", Li Weijin and Yinzhi, allegedly connived with officials of the Uganda Wildlife Authority to illegally export ivory.

Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zheng Zhuqiang immediately protested, saying the claims were based on incorrect information.

Zheng has requested the Ugandan government formally repairs damage the letter has caused to the embassy's public image.

A photo of Uganda's Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa. [Photo: Xinhua]

"One thing which is clear is that there was a mistake (in the president's letter). We have since checked records and found out that the two men have never worked at the embassy. Neither of them is a diplomat," said Uganda's Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa.

"I have found in the records that the two men just entered Uganda and moved out. They never stayed there," Kutesa added.

"China and Uganda continue to enjoy very cordial relations. The government of Uganda reiterates its commitment to strengthening further the relations and bonds of friendship that exists between our two countries,” according to the ministry's statement.

The order for an investigation followed allegations of theft of huge stocks of confiscated ivory from the Wildlife Authority since 2014, with 1,300 kilograms stolen.