The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has hailed 2024 as a pivotal year for wildlife conservation, celebrating significant achievements despite grappling with financial constraints and human-wildlife conflicts.
As the body responsible for managing and protecting wildlife in and outside protected areas, UWA oversees 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves, five community wildlife management areas, and 13 wildlife sanctuaries.
These parks, including iconic ones such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks, represent the best of East Africa’s natural heritage.
UWA has made strides in bolstering wildlife populations and improving park management.
Among its notable achievements, over 200 Uganda kobs and 20 buffaloes were relocated to Ajai Wildlife Reserve to strengthen animal populations in protected areas.
Additionally, UWA cleared over 3,000 hectares of invasive vegetation, a record three times the area cleared in previous years.
“We have moved over 200 Uganda kobs into Ajai to bolster the numbers, alongside 20 buffaloes. Clearing invasive species across 3,000 hectares has been a major achievement this year,” said UWA Executive Director Sam Mwandha.
To improve park operations, UWA upgraded staff housing and implemented advanced monitoring technologies, including drone cameras.
These innovations significantly reduced poaching activities in national parks and wildlife reserves.
Additionally, collaring programs for elephants and lions ensured zero losses of these key species during the year.
Challenges in Park Management
Despite these successes, UWA continues to face challenges. Limited financial and human resources hinder the full management of protected areas.
Growing wildlife populations have led to animals straying beyond park boundaries, causing damage to community property and straining relationships with residents.
“The number of animals in our parks has gone up, and as they grow in numbers, they end up outside the parks, damaging communities'" Mwandha said.
"We divert resources to the most pressing issues, like managing human-wildlife conflicts, especially elephants that trample on people’s livelihoods."
To mitigate these conflicts, UWA erected 150 kilometres of electric fencing in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, targeting problem areas for elephants.
However, incidents persist, posing operational and financial challenges.
Poaching remains another pressing issue, with many animals targeted using snares for bushmeat.
Mwandha revealed that nearly 1,000 individuals were arrested for illegal activities in parks this year, with many facing prosecution.
Community Engagement
UWA has prioritised collaboration with communities surrounding the parks. In 2024, over Shs3 billion was allocated as revenue-sharing funds, with Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks receiving the largest shares.
Additionally, 2% of all revenue was designated for compensating affected communities.
International partnerships have been instrumental in supporting UWA’s efforts. A six-year, USD 40 million World Bank project addressing invasive species is now in its fifth year of implementation.
Other contributions include the Face Foundation’s rehabilitation of Kibale National Park and infrastructure support from the Uganda Conservation Foundation.
“The World Bank’s six-year, $40 million project to deal with invasive species has been a game-changer. We are now in the fifth year of its implementation,” Mwandha noted.
Human-wildlife conflicts remain a persistent challenge. Mwandha emphasized the need for comprehensive policies to address the tensions between communities and wildlife.
Many affected villages were not incorporated into park boundaries during their establishment, creating long-standing disputes.
“There is a need for compensation and a special arrangement for resettling these people, but no decision has been made by the government,” he said.
Community and Expert Perspectives
Festo Kajura, a resident of Katwe near Queen Elizabeth National Park, acknowledged UWA’s efforts but called for policy changes to allow better access to park resources.
“UWA’s conservation story is commendable. They engage regularly with communities, especially in areas where elephants, hippos, and lions disturb people," Kajura said.
"However, there should be a policy change to enable people to access resources around the park."
Herbert Byaruhanga, a renowned tour guide trainer and former president of the Uganda Tourism Association, praised UWA’s work but noted gaps in infrastructure development.
“UWA has done a commendable job in maintaining the parks. The parks are safe, clean, and well-maintained, but there is still a need to address gaps in infrastructure,” Byaruhanga said.
As UWA navigates the complexities of conservation, balancing the needs of wildlife with those of surrounding communities remains an enduring challenge.