UWEC trains students on using digital systems to conserve wildlife

By Lawrence Mushabe

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) has launched digital innovation and outreach programs for sensitization, where students are expected to share the skills of conservation with their families on issues of poaching, mind change among others.

The smart technology which includes cyber tracker, ODK systems, satellite tracking systems, GIS and among others that are enable in tracking wildlife , give feedback to the centre, track the number of animals in the national park ,and among others

This program is expected to be rolled out to different sectors including transporters, judiciary, and district leaders among others.

However, different organizations in Wildlife conservation have expressed concerns over the decreasing number of wildlife in national parks attributing it to lack of proper use of tourism innovation programs such as smart technology.

According to Isaac Mujaasi ,Senior Project Officer (UWEC),the decreasing number of animals may not necessarily be attributed to only poaching but there are also some natural causes that lead to reduction of animal population.

“You see breeding reproduction needs a reproductive mind, for example you have issues like that of oil and gas, traffic, roads among others. So, the safer breeding zones have been impacted and animals live in fear thus simplifying decrease in numbers” Mujaasi stated.

He added there should be more sensitization about the general public on wildlife conservation as a source of revenue.

“Yes, we are using technologies but we have to remove the threats to wildlife .we know wildlife needs habitat, they need shelter, food space and so we should work on it for example, while humans are littering polythene papers ,an animal can swallow it and it dies” Mujaasi asked.

Reports indicate there's a huge reduction of elephants and leopards in Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo national parks.

Philip Katabulawo, outreach program UWEC said, “Even in terms of surveillance, there's a need to try and curtail wildlife trafficking and more so, we are introducing new technologies including human interests in wildlife.

“We have brought together a number of schools especially secondary schools targeting the central region to try and digest digital innovation within wildlife conservation”.

Senior warden awareness and education at Uganda Wildlife Authority, Getrude Kirabo while addressing students at St Mary’s College Kisubi said “our mandate is to ensure we sustain, conserve wildlife in the country”.

“UWA is the sole custodian and full implementer of all these programs that are being launched and we are so privileged for the program. We have learnt that they have introduced smart mobile systems which enable us to track wildlife and give feedback to the centre so that everybody knows what has been observed, what is reducing and problems being addressed from the community side.

“The smart technology which includes cyber tracker, ODK systems, satellite tracking systems, GIS and among others that are enabled in tracking wildlife”.

She urged students to preserve the environment and be involved in wildlife conservation programs while using technological systems.

The country is yet to join other countries to celebrate the world tourism day slated for 6th March, 2024 in Kyegegwa district under the theme ‘connecting people on the planet, exploring digital innovation in wildlife conservation’