UGANDA: Uganda Wildlife Authority And Residents Capture Dangerous Man Eating Crocodile

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), working together with residents and other stakeholders have embarked on the hunt-down of man-eating crocodiles on the shores of Lake Victoria on Bukhooli Island in Namayingo District.

Mr Peter Ogwang, the warden in charge of wild animals, on Wednesday said they had been deployed in the strategic areas to get the reptiles and that they had so far captured one.

The captured crocodile weighed about 800 kilogrammes and was about five metres long. It was estimated to be between 45 and 50 years of age.

The captured crocodile is suspected to have attacked the chairperson of Kamwanga Village as she was washing clothes on the shores of Lake Victoria.

But there are also reports that five other people have so far been killed.

He explained that young crocodiles feed on fish, worms and other smaller water creatures but as they grow, they resort to attacking humans who become easy targets.

Mr John Bosco Lukwago, a resident of Mwangoda Village, one of the most affected villages, said there is a sigh of relief for residents since they had started relocating them.

After the capture of one crocodile, these officials are most likely to keep off and return to Kampala leaving more crocodiles at large. We ask that they capture all of them, Mr Lukwago, said.

Mr John Bosco Nyebenza, the LC3 chairperson of Dolwe Sub-county, said: Whenever a resident is attacked by the crocodile, our first check point is a nearby rock where we recover part of the remains of their body parts. So residents here call that rock a crocodile hotel.

Mr Musitafa Muzamiru, a resident of Singila Village, said affected families whose relatives have been killed and several others suffered disabilities should be compensated by the government.

Let government get a special fund to help the families of the victims because many homes have lost bread winners due to these reptiles, which are protected species, he said.

However, Mr Sam Mwandha, the UWA executive director, said there was no law on compensation of crocodile victims.

But soon a Bill on compensation of the victims will be laid in Parliament and if passed into law, a special fund will set aside money to cater for such cases,” he said.

The Namayingo District chairperson, Mr Ronald Sanya, said apart from crocodiles, hippopotami have also destroyed people’s gardens.

He urged government to extend piped water to the affected communities so that residents stop going to the lake to fetch water under risky circumstances.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Man-Eating Crocodile Captured By Uganda Wild Authority

Masindi, Nakasongola and Kiryandongo districts are breathing a sigh of relief after a crocodile suspected to have eaten three children in the area in the last two months was captured on Friday.

Mr Jossy Muhangi, the Uganda Wild Authority (UWA) spokesperson, confirmed the predator was captured at River Kafu that straddles the boundary of the three districts.

We captured the crocodile today (Friday) but you can get details from our regional spokesperson Mr John Egesa, Mr Muhangi said.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Egesa were futile as his known contacts were inaccessible. But a local online publication reported that the crocodile was captured by UWA officials near Murchison Falls National Park.

Last month, the residents petitioned UWA to kill the crocodile following several reported attacks by the reptile and other beasts on the shores of River Kafu.

In November last year, residents of Kimengo Sub-county in Masindi District accused UWA of not taking seriously their complaints that crocodiles on River Kafu were killing residents by the river banks.

The complaints follow the killing by the beast of a Primary Five pupil of Kaikanga Primary School as she fetched water from River Kafu.

Mr Robert Musasizi, the Kimengo Sub-county chairman, said they had experienced similar problems and several people and animals had been eaten by the predators in the villages of Miduma, Kateirwe, Kizinga, Kafu and Kayera all in Kimengo Sub-county.

The locals accused UWA, whose mandate is to conserve wildlife, of giving priority to animals over human beings.

Mr Richard Muhabwe, the UWA's manager for Murchison Falls conservation area in Masindi District, said they were aware of the dangers posed by crocodiles on River Kafu but they lacked personnel to control or repatriate the beasts.

UGANDA: European Union Envoy Asks Uganda To Destroty 15 Tons Of Poached Ivory

The European Union has asked Uganda to destroy more than 15 tonnes of ivory impounded, valued at about Shs81 trillion, from illegal traders.

Two weeks ago, local security seized 1,351 Kilogrammes from three West African nationals on transit to foreign markets, one of the biggest consignment held in Uganda’s history.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesman Simplicious Gessa said that the authority is waiting for Cabinet decision to dispose of the treasured elephant tasks.

“I commend Uganda government for controlling poaching locally but it should fight being a transit country.

I also call upon local authorities to destroy the ivory to send strong signal to those in the illicit business,” European Union (EU) Ambassador Kristian Schmidt said.

Speaking at the United Nations World Wildlife Day celebrations on Friday at the Uganda Museum, Kampala, Mr Schmidt also called on government to expedite the amendment of the Uganda Wildlife Act that proposes tougher penalties on poachers.

The amended Bill suggests life sentence, a fine of Shs20 million or both unlike the present law which gives a light sentence of three years in jail or a Shs1 million fine or both.

While reading President Yoweri Museveni’s speech at the same event, Tourism minister Ephraim Kamuntu said government is committed to curtailing ivory trade throughout Uganda.

“As we speak, Uganda Wild Life Authority has acquired sniffer dogs, a boost for the institutions performance to detect ivory smuggling. I call upon Ugandan security, the public and partners to conserve our wildlife for sustainable development of our country,” he said.

He added: “We still have a challenge of isolated cases of poaching, ecological research among others but government is committed to address all these challenges.”

UGANDA: Accommodation Facilities To Boost Tourism In Murchison Falls National Park

Several companies have bidded for three sites to construct lodges in Murchison Falls National Park to boost tourism.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) executive director, Mr Andrew Gunga Seguya, the initiative is expected to reduce on accommodation fees for more tourists.

"We invited bidders to construct a 40-bed lodge at Karuma Falls, 30-bed at Rwagongo Forest and another 30-bed at Bugungu on the Butyaba escarpment. All this is aimed at providing more accommodation for clients visiting the park," he said.

Speaking to Members of Parliament and journalists after visiting Murchison Falls National Park in a campaign to boost local tourism named tulambule last week, Mr Seguya declined to disclose the number and name of the firms that have bidded.

The Tulambule campaign started on September 23, 2016, at the onset of 2016 World Tourism Day celebrations in Mbarara. It aims at creating awareness about Uganda tour adventures and destinations and calls upon everyone to be part of this initiative by visiting the 10 national parks other game reserves in Uganda.

The Ugandan National Parks include; Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale, Kidepo Valley, Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Mburo, Semuliki, Murchison Falls, Mgahinga Gorilla and Queen Elizabeth.

State minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda, said the initiative would boost revenue to government.

Most of the accommodation in the park is billed in US dollars, something that has discouraged local tourists.
Half of the tourists that visit the park are foreigners charged entrance fee of $40 (Shs150,000) while locals pay Shs10,000.

UGANDA: Is Roast Roadside Meat Safe?

Roast meat vendors at Kafu, on the Gulu-Kampala highway have demanded an apology from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for undermining the formerly brisk business.

The traders led by Mr Isma Seninde, their chairman, are demanding that Dr Andrew Seguya, the UWA executive director, retracts the statement he made against them because it has sabotaged their business as travellers no longer stopover to buy roast meat, cassava and soft drinks for fear of being served roast baboon meat.

"For the seven years I have been here, I have never seen a baboon in this area being slaughtered. Wherever [Dr} Suguya got his information from, he must come and explain to us because it has affected our business since the media spread the information widely," he told this newspaper on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Masindi Resident District Commissioner, had to intervene on Tuesday to calm down the traders who were planning to block traffic on the Masindi-Kafu road as well as the Kampala-Gulu high way to explain to the travelers that they sell genuine beef.

When contacted, Mr Nyakahuma confirmed the development. "The information was so damaging for us even as a district because eating baboons causes ebola and that is a security threat," he said, adding that the report by Dr Seguya was false.

Recently, while addressing journalists, Dr Seguya warned the public against eating roast meat at Kafu saying sometimes it is baboon meat sold by poachers.

When this newspaper travelled through Kafu on Wednesday evening, the traders were pratically pleading with passengers to buy their roast meat.

According to Mr Seninde, the UWA statement damaged their business and has seen the number of animals being slaughtered for mchomo from seven cows and 15 goats daily, to just one cow and three goats a day; and sometimes the unsold beef is burnt.

UGANDA: Crocodile Swallows Girl Fetching Water

Residents of Kimengo Sub County in Masindi district have accused the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) of neglecting them when crocodiles on River Kafu are endlessly killing and eating their colleagues.

The latest incident happened in October when a primary five pupil of Kaikanga Primary School and was eaten by a crocodile as she fetched water from River Kafu.

Kimengo Sub county chairman, Mr Robert Musasizi on Monday said they have experienced similar problems for a long time and a number of people and animals have been eaten by the predators.

Musasizi said the most affected villages are Miduma, Kateirwe, Kizinga, Kafu and Kayera all in Kimengo Sub-county.

He accused UWA, whose mandate is to conserve wildlife of giving priority to animals that are wrecking havoc on human beings.

“We are very much concerned because we have been reporting all these incidences to UWA but they have never responded,” he said.

Mr Sunday Musuuli, an elder accused UWA of being irresponsible and concentrating on minor issues leaving serious issues that concern citizens unresolved.

“When UWA hears that residents have killed an antelope, they get concerned but when we report that one of us has been killed by a crocodile, they don’t care at all,” Mr Musuuli said.

UWA sector manager in charge of Murchison Falls conservation area, Mr Richard Muhabwe admitted that he is aware of the dangers caused by crocodiles on River Kafu.

He said they lack personnel to control or repatriate the beasts.

“We are making arrangements to shift all dangerous crocodiles from River Kafu in Kimengo Sub-county,” Mr Muhabwe said.

UGANDA: Uganda Tourism Board Blamed For Not Marketing Uganda

Members of Parliament complained about Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) for failure to promote Uganda as a tourist destination.

UTB officials led by the chief executive officer Stephen Asiimwe and head of marketing Edwin Muzahura appeared before Parliament's committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry on Tuesday to make a presentation on activities and strategies being undertaken by the board.

Asiimwe told the committee that the board has to operate within a budget of only Shs 11.4bn, money he said is inadequate to execute its plans.

He noted that the board needs to carry out training exercises for tour operators, guides and hospitality staff across the country as well as continue with marketing Uganda abroad through foreign public relation agencies.

Asiimwe also criticized the continued levy of 18 percent value added tax (VAT) on hotels upcountry as having a negative toll on the sector.

“There is still a challenge on upcountry accommodation. Government has been charging 18 percent VAT. Now, what happens there, is that, every time a visitor comes to a hotel in an upcountry facility where the majority of the leisure tourists go, the VAT is put on the visitor. Then they pay more money, the experience is more expensive and you become less competitive. The issue of national carrier is still very critical. By last week, getting a ticket to Kenya was $800”, he said.

However, some MPs on the committee dismissed the presentation as merely ‘cosmetic’, containing no concrete and viable strategy to increase tourism revenue. The legislators insisted that funding was not the major setback dogging the board. Moses Balyeku, the Jinja West MP, told UTB officials to be more creative and bring in more money to the country.

“Government can’t keep on giving you money all the time, it is not there. You need to be more enterprising. Get your own money. UWA,Uganda Wildlife Authority, makes its own money. You have a board member here from UWA who sits on your board. What value does he bring on your board. What value does hotel owners does the hotel owners bring on your board? You first market us as Uganda, as a tourist destination and brand us. The reason why we have been singing all these years is, the other time we spent money on CNN that we are marketing Uganda in a wrong way.”, he said.

Dokolo county MP Felix Okot Ogong criticized the board for presenting the same challenges to the committee every year without ever finding solutions.

“I find a problem with the tourism board here. They are into other things but not focusing on what should promote tourism. I think this time, we should do it differently. You have Shs 11bn. Most people don’t have those billions of shillings but how efficiently are you using it? Is it being effectively used to promote what we are saying. The problem actually to me, committee chairman, lies with the board”, he said.

But Asiimwe insisted that Uganda had the best tourism master plan on the continent and stressed that the sector had the potential to fund the nation's entire budget. He however noted that there needed to be a fundamental shift in priorities and attitudes as far as tourism is concerned.

“If you read the UTB tourism master plan, it is a 10-year fantastic paper, countries are clamoring to own it, countries are dying to own it. In terms of what it takes to market this country, we have but we need a fundamental shift in the way we look at its products. And I really insist, this thing needs to be taken beyond just the committee but of course the committee can spearhead this and we fundamentally look at tourism as a very important sector”, Asiimwe said.

Despite underfunding, in FY 2014/15, sector contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased to Shs 6.3 trillion (9 percent of GDP) up from 5.6 trillion (7.9 percent of GDP) the previous year. In the same period, the number of tourists increased from 1,206,334 visitors in 2013 to 1,266, 046 visitors in 2014. UTB attributed this to better marketing strategies.

UGANDA: Uganda Confiscates 4,000 Kgs Of Ivory As Trafficking increases

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have said illegal wildlife trafficking is on the rise as Uganda and the entire East African region remain top transit routes for items heading to Asian countries.

The increase of the vice has been blamed on weak national legislations and lack of cooperation between partner states alongside changing tactics of packaging of the items by the individuals involved in the illicit trade.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a one-week training for enforcement officers currently on-going in Entebbe on Monday, the UWA acting security and law enforcement officer, Ms Margret Kasumba, said about 4 tonnes of ivory were concealed by the URA, UWA and police between 2014 and 2015.

“These include those at the UWA stores and those still in possession of the Police and are still under investigations,” said Ms Kasumba.

“The consignments were disguised in drums as shear butter and were in transit to Singapore. Other items were disguised as aircraft equipment headed to the Netherlands for repair,” she said, adding that the training provided by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will boost intelligence of the officers in detecting new tactics.

According to Mr Abel Kagumire, the manager enforcement operations at URA, the tax body in joint operations consificated 473kgs of Ivory in June 2012, 832 pcs about 2.9 tonnes seized in October 2013 and 10kgs concealed as Matooke seized at Bunagana in 2015.
The other major seizures were at Entebbe International Airport jointly seized by URA and Police.

Mr Kagumire added that about 3.3 tonnes of ivory and rhino horns were seized on January 12, 2015 and they were concealed as telecommunications equipment and one tonne of ivory concealed in 4 drums disguised as shear butter.

“Ivory costs about USD 2700 per kg (Shs9.07m) whereas Rhino horns cost about USD 50000 per kg (Shs168m),” said Mr Kangumire, as he explained why capacity building is necessary to help in curbing the vice conducted in what is known as organised crime networks.
Mr Mohammad Eisayed of IFAW noted that the main challenge to combating wildlife trafficking in the region is the high demand for these products in Asia.

In 2014, an audit revealed that 1,355kgs of ivory worth $1.1 billion (about Shs3 billion) had gone missing from the UWA’s strong room. However, the matter was investigated by the Inspector General of Government and culprits apprehended.

UGANDA: Translocation Of 20 Giraffes To Murchison Falls National park

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has received donation of Transport Logistic equipment from Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Uganda Wildlife Education Center to support the Conservation Agency to carry out Translocation exercise for Giraffes in Murchison Falls National park (MFNP).

“UWA very soon will be engaging in a translocation exercise where 20 giraffes will be translocated from the northern banks in the park where oil exploration and other related activities are taking place to the southern bank where UWA consider being safer for the animals,” Nightingale Mirembe Ssenoga the acting UWA Executive Director said while receiving the equipment at its headquarters in Kampala.

She said: “As UWA we are delighted to receive the equipment it will make our work more easier.”

The equipment which includes truck worth $ 37, 5000 from GCF and cat truck from UWEC will be used by the agency to translocate about 20 giraffes from the northern Banks of the park to the southern bank and UWEC at Entebbe.

Ssenoga said UWA is committed to see that Giraffes like other wildlife animals are protected from any threat resulting from various Economic activities taking place in the national park. Apart from translocating the animal to safer zones, UWA is also drafting National Giraffe conservation policy which will support UWA source for more funds to support conservation for Giraffes in the country.

Handing over the truck to UWA, the Director of GCF Dr Julian Fennessy said Uganda is among the African Countries with great number of Giraffes thus asking the country to conserve the Animals because of their economic value.

“Protecting Giraffes comes with great Economic potential to a country like Uganda, GCF we are committed to support UWA towards Giraffe conservation,” he said.

James Musinguzi the Executive Director UWEC said the two donated giraffes will help the Education Centre to increase on their source of income.

UGANDA: Caldera Guest House

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has commissioned a multi-billion shilling accommodation and events facility in Mbale Municipality to supplement tourism revenue from neighbouring Mt. Elgon Conservation Area (MECA).

The facility named CALDERA Guest house after the famous Mount Elgon Caldera known to b the largest in the world, was commissioned by the chairman of the UWA Board of Trustees, Mr. Benjamin Otto flanked by leaders from the districts neighbouring the conservation area.

The Guest house boasts of ten spacious self contained rooms, a modern restaurant, a bar, conference hall, a room for business centre and open gardens for events. It is located in the centre of Mbale town close to the Mt. Elgon National Park offices.

The property was donated to UWA by IUCN in July 2003.It was formerly used as staff accommodation before UWA undertook to renovate it to transform it into a commercial premise. It has been advertised for private management and got a lot of interested bidders who are still being assessed before the successful one is awarded a contract.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, the chairman UWA BoT Mr. Otto applauded the management of UWA on their initiative to put up the facility which will supplement revenue from the traditional tourism attractions on top of providing employment opportunities and services to the local communities.

Mr. Charles Tumwesigye the Deputy Director Conservation at UWA who represented the Executive Director, appealed to the business community and development partners to support the guest house as direct clients, agents and promoters. He said UWA has plans to diversify tourism products in MECA to attract more visitors who will in turn boost business in the neighbouring towns.

The function was graced by the Bugisu cultural leaders, Omukhuka, the Mbale District Resident Commissioner Ms Pamela Watua, Dr. Adonia Bintoora the Manager MECA and several local leaders and representatives of the business community. Ms SAMKA contractors were the firm that carried out the renovation.

UGANDA: Visiting Mt Rwenzori

I went to Uganda to go back to magnificent nature. I met gorillas in Bwindi and chimpanzees in Kibale. I was so impressed by the purity of the lakes and savannah in Queen Elizabeth and Mburo. All these places touched me but Rwenzori made me feel special. It divides Africa on the Equator but more than that, if the rivers are the veins of the earth, Rwenzori Mountains are unquestionably, the heart of Africa. This place brings life- pumping water to the two main arteries of the continent, the Nile and the Congo Rivers. It is a unique place and a source of life for so many people and cultures along both rivers.

All natural and serene
In this remote corner of the earth you can hear the heartbeat of Africa and feel how pristine landscapes breathe, exhausted, and fearing the deforestation axe. You can experience the poverty, feeling it tear your soul, seeing the contrasts as you journey deeper and higher in Africa. There is an urgent need to find ways for halting poverty and deforestation. Mount Stanley at the Rwenzori is not only the highest mountain in Uganda it is the highest tropical mountain at the Equator in Africa. For mountaineers who look for purity of travelling, running away from artificially transformed circuits, to those seeking the essence of the explorer, pioneer, traveller and climber, this place makes you feel special. Compared to the overcrowded Kilimajaro, the mystical traveller will find something in Rwenzori. There are friendly people who chat and show you how it is possible to live embedded in a place full of richness such as freshwater, biodiversity, a beautiful landscape, glaciers and sunshine and at the same time struggle against poverty.

Sad side
Agonising reality is the tropical mountain glaciers irreversibly melting. Being on the Equator, this mountain is especially vulnerable to climate change effects. One night while talking to Reuben, one of our guides, he commented about the years when his father was a guide. Then, these glaciers poured from the summits over 5,400 metres to below 4,600 metres, to where Elena’s hut, the last camp is today. Just like Chimborazo, the highest peak in Ecuador, it took us almost two hours to reach the glacier of Mount Stanley.

It is disturbing, hearing the sound of ice just melting and running in dozens of creeks, below the ice under our feet. It is a paradox, that in a country with such evidences of climate change, the government’s priority is oil extraction.
On this steep terrain, in the dry season, farmers slash and burn almost everything. It is only the application of the law that protects the national park, thanks to its status as a conservation area. Because it is a growing source of income for the country and for local communities, the economy has contributed to and ensured the conservation of this wonderful place.

Sustainable approach
Today more than ever, visiting the national park for trekking or climbing is crucial as an alternative to deforestation. It is a source of income for the locals. Dozens of guides, porters, cooks and numerous families get an income, thanks to tourism that focuses on sustainability and attracting responsible visitors to these mountains.

Sustainable tourism is crucial to end poverty around Rwenzori Mountains. I saw Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) doing a good job in the national park. I got interesting feedback from Rwenzururu Kingdom on an environmental effort in the region. I discovered several companies and NGOs interested in creating value for visitors. One such NGO is World Wildlife Fund (WWF) currently implementing a project in the region to generate additional income for the Rwenzori Mountains National park by especially boosting tourism. Tourist incomes will help alleviate poverty.

Children will have education and opportunities to learn and develop their awareness and skills to protect nature from destruction to sustainability. In the medium and long term, it is crucial to engage the government and international donors in investing in the restoration of natural vegetation on these steep hillsides to create a buffer zone outside the national park. This will prevent soil erosion, conserve the freshwater below these mountains, and to ensure an additional source of income linked to forestry and agro-forestry.

The future
We cannot think of economic development as depleting mineral deposits or oil reservoirs because in this process of extinguishing non-renewable raw materials we accelerate climate change which is the primary and most urgent threat to the degradation of this unique landscape.

UGANDA: US Gives $1.6m To Uganda Wildlife

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the USAID/Uganda Biodiversity Program implemented by African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has donated a full set of road equipment’s worth USD 1,6 million to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

The Roads Equipment is part of the USD 10 million supports to biodiversity conservation in Uganda by US Government through a 4-year Biodiversity Program. Handing over the Equipment to Uganda Wild life Authority Shawna Hirsch Environment Unit Leader US Agency for International Development said Tourism plays vital role in the country’s Economy but the challenge the sector is faced with many challenges ranging from poachers and poor Infrastructures which hinders the monitoring of the national parks by UWA.

“Through the USAID /Uganda Biodiversity program the American Government through its development arm is committed to support the capacity Building of UWA and other government conservation agencies to manage biodiversity better that is when the government will earn more from bio diversity conservation that is why we have procured these machines to support UWA ” she explained.

The road construction and maintenance equipment includes a grader, a bulldozer, an excavator, a vibro roller, 2 tippers and 1 low bed transporter will help UWA to open and maintain more roads within protected areas to enable easier ecological monitoring and patrols and also in addressing illegal activities especially in Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks to areas where poaching still remains a threat.

Receiving the Equipment’s on behalf of Government, the permanent secretary Ministry of Tourism Wild life and Antiquities Ambassador Patrick Mugoya who represented the Minister Maria Mutagamba said equipment will greatly improve the tourism infrastructure in the protected areas and neighbouring communities by opening up access roads, tracks used in tourism activities, patrols, monitoring and other services, which will contribute to the desired healthy eco systems. “This support from our historical partners in the US, is in line with the government strategic plans of prioritizing tourism roads and the entire sector as one of the key engines of economic growth “he said.

Recently Uganda Cabinet approved the Uganda Wildlife Policy 2014 in April last year. Its vision is to sustainably manage and develop wildlife resources and healthy ecosystems in a transformed Uganda.

For these eco systems to remain healthy, interventions have to be made in the right direction in improving access, monitoring thus the regular maintenance of access tracks and roads requires enormous resources such as what has been provided by our development partners.

Tourism sector in Uganda is considered as one of the engine to drive Uganda to achieve its National development vision 2040 and the National Development Plan. To see that government achieves its goals, the Ministry of Tourism developed the Tourism master Plan 2014-2024 and the Sector Development Plan 2015-2019. These are the cornerstone for biodiversity Tourism development conservation efforts in Uganda and will guide among others, the realization of the Wildlife Policy objectives.

Commenting on the donation UWA Executive director Dr Andrew Sseguya said the machines will help UWA in modernizing its protected areas in the country since most of the National parks have been facing challenges of improved Infrastructures. but with the donation of the Equipment the conservation agency will embark on improving the roads network in the parks.

According to the Sam Mwandha the senior program officer at the AWF the machines donated to UWA are of high technology and its fuel consumption is economically good compare to other roads equipment machines on the market.

UGANDA: Dutch Tourist Goes Missing In Murchison Falls National Park

Tourism Police and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officers have mounted a search for a Dutch national who went missing in Murchison Falls National Park part of Nwoya District on Wednesday night.

Ms Sofia Isabella Federika is said to have told friends that she was going for a short call only to wander from the Students Education Centre to the bank of the River Nile. Tourism police commander Wilson Omoding said they have not lost hope and the search for Ms Federika is ongoing. “We haven’t found her yet but all efforts to look for her are still on,” Mr Omoding said yesterday.

Ms Federika is a volunteer at Rubaga Hospital.
UWA officials searched for her as soon as they learnt that she was missing but their efforts were hampered by darkness and called them off until Thursday.

“Early morning (Thursday) the team discovered a bottle she had been holding, by the Victoria Nile river bank, prompting fear that she might have walked to this point,” UWA statement read in part.

River Nile is infested with crocodiles and hippopotamuses that are known to attack human beings.

Previous incidents
Since the 1999 incident in which foreign tourists were killed by rebels in Bwindi National Park, cases of missing tourists have been rare.

In 2011, one female tourist went missing in Kibaale National Park but she was found days later after a massive search.
After the incident, police had to establish a Tourism Police Unit to ensure the safety of tourist sites and visitors from within Uganda and outside the country.

UGANDA: AUTO To Sell Gorilla Permits, UWA To Do Wildlife Conservation

UWA executive director Andrew Seguya (R) exchanges the signed MoU with Ms Barbara Vanhelleputte, the chairperson Association of Uganda Tour Operators in Kampala last week.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has outsourced the selling of gorilla tracking permits to the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) in a move meant to increase sales.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership last week, UWA executive director Andrew Seguya said the move will enable UWA concentrate on its conservation mandate to ensure that the gorillas are available while AUTO does the marketing of the product so as to boost gorilla tracking as a tourism product.

Under the new arrangement, which has already taken effect, AUTO will be getting a commission of $600 (about Shs2.2m )for every 30 permits the association sells. This will strengthen the association’s capacity to market Uganda’s tourism potential by organising exhibitions and tourism promotion events.

“For every 30 tickets that AUTO sells as group, we shall offer them a complimentary permit for a non-resident foreign client and we shall be declaring them every quarter on top of the $10 that we give them currently for every permit they sell,” Dr Seguya said.

He added: “We have picked interest in conservation and AUTO is our biggest partner in selling the permits. We want to raise conservation and ensure the park is free of encroachment and other threats.”

AUTO chairperson Barbara Vanhelleputte welcomed the partnership following discussions which have taken some time coupled with the positive media coverage of Uganda as a tourism destination. This has increased the number of tourists coming from Britain, Germany, Netherlands and Europe which are the major tourism source markets.

“We hope this will boost the promotion of Uganda as a tourism destination,” she said.

The gorilla brand
The Mountain Gorillas, with a current population of more than 440, is Uganda’s tourism flag brand. UWA currently has 104 permits available daily to track 13 gorilla families which have been habituated but are under threat because of encroachment on their habitat.

The authority hopes that the new partnership will raise income for UWA, AUTO and the host communities to promote conservation.