More than 1,185 youth have thronged the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) recruitment centre at Katunguru in Rubirizi District, competing for only 140 available positions as game rangers in a highly demanding selection exercise.
The recruitment, held at the Katunguru offices within the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area, attracted applicants from several districts including Kasese, Bunyangabu, Fort Portal City, Bunyaruguru, Rukungiri, and Kanungu.
Candidates were first subjected to a strenuous 5-kilometre run as an initial screening test before proceeding to medical examinations.
The physically demanding exercise saw several applicants struggle to complete the course, with some fainting and others breaking down in exhaustion before being assisted by UWA officials.
Speaking during the exercise, Chief Warden of the conservation area Frederick Eria Kisame said the recruitment is part of a broader national effort to address staffing shortages within the authority.
“We need only 140 successful candidates from this exercise, yet the turnout has been overwhelming. This shows the level of interest among the youth to serve in conservation,” Kisame said.
He noted that understaffing remains a challenge across protected areas, but expressed optimism that the new recruits will strengthen enforcement and conservation operations.
Kisame also highlighted poaching as a persistent threat to wildlife conservation.
“Poaching remains a big challenge, but with increased manpower, we are confident that it will be better handled,” he added.
He further cautioned communities living near national parks against engaging in illegal wildlife activities, emphasizing that conservation is vital to Uganda’s tourism industry and broader economic growth.
Despite the intensity of the exercise, Kisame confirmed that no deaths were recorded during the recruitment process.
“We ensured that all applicants were properly guided and briefed. So far, we have registered no fatalities. Only two male applicants were referred to health facilities after losing consciousness, but they are improving,” he said.
A member of the UWA Board of Trustees and Human Resource Committee, Kenneth Obigaba Bigezikyi, said the exercise attracted applicants from a wide geographical range, reflecting its national reach.
“We have applicants from different districts including Kasese, Bunyangabu, Fort Portal, Bunyaruguru, Rukungiri, and Kanungu. This demonstrates the inclusiveness of the process,” he noted.
Successful candidates who completed the physical test praised the transparency of the recruitment process. Wilson Bwambale from Kasese and Esther Katusabe Atooki from Fort Portal City described it as fair and well organized.
“The exercise has been free and fair. Everyone was given an equal opportunity,” one applicant said.
The recruitment drive highlights both the high levels of youth unemployment and the growing demand for manpower in Uganda’s conservation sector, as authorities seek to protect the country’s wildlife and natural heritage.