Uganda investigates vanished ivory haul Published duration 1 June 2017

image copyright AFP Photo/Carl de Souza image caption Uganda is a popular smuggling route for the illegal trade in African ivory

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has ordered a new investigation into the disappearance of ivory from government strong rooms.

Mr Museveni said the Wildlife Authority's Executive Director Andrew Segguya is potentially implicated.

However, Mr Segguya has maintained his innocence, saying he launched an audit after the ivory went missing.

The president has also accused two Chinese diplomats of ivory trafficking - a claim China denies.

A spokeswoman for Uganda's top anti-corruption body said the two Chinese embassy officials are suspected of helping move ivory from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan, by passing it through Uganda.

China has dismissed the allegations as "totally unfounded".

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told journalists: "We have rigorous regulations and laws on governmental officials, embassy members, and visiting groups to forbid them from buying or engaging in (smuggling) activities."

She added that if the claims were proven, the pair would be punished.

In December, China announced that it would ban all ivory trading and processing activities by the end of 2017.

Ivory is a status symbol in the Asian country and sells for about £852 ($1,100) per kilo.

Uganda is a popular smuggling route for the illegal trade in African ivory and rhino horn, which are still used in some traditional Chinese medicines.