Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)



  • Uganda Wildlife Authority is a semi‑autonomous government agency established in August 1996, formalized under the Uganda Wildlife Statute (later the Uganda Wildlife Act 2000, amended 2019), merging the Uganda National Parks and Game & Fisheries departments.




  • Overseen by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, its mandate is to conserve, manage, and regulate wildlife resources both inside protected areas and in surrounding communities.








? Headquarters & Leadership




  • Located at Plot 7, Kira Road, Kamwookya, Kampala (between Uganda Museum and the British High Commission).




  • Governed by a nine‑member board of trustees, appointed by the Minister of Tourism. The board’s term is three years; the current Executive Director is Sam Mwandha (since March 2018).








? Scope & Management




  • Manages 10 National Parks, 12 Wildlife Reserves, 13–14 Wildlife Sanctuaries, and 5 Community Wildlife Areas.




  • Notable parks under its management:





    • Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla, Kibale, Lake Mburo, Rwenzori Mountains, Semuliki, Kidepo Valley, and Mount Elgon.










? Vision & Mission




  • Vision: To be a self‑sustaining wildlife conservation agency that makes Uganda an outstanding ecotourism destination.




  • Mission: Conserve, economically develop, and sustainably manage wildlife and protected areas in partnership with neighboring communities and stakeholders, benefiting both Ugandans and the global community.








? Core Roles & Activities




  1. Wildlife and Protected Area Management





    • Policing against poaching, illegal logging, and encroachment. Daily patrols by rangers help protect biodiversity.






  2. Tourism Regulation & Promotion





    • Issuing permits (e.g., gorilla and chimp trekking), setting park fees, licensing tour operators, and promoting park activities/events.






  3. Community Engagement





    • Scholarships, jobs (guides, rangers), revenue sharing (e.g., 30% of park fees), community education on conservation .






  4. Infrastructure & Logistics





    • Building ranger stations, managing lodging within parks, patrol routes, and responding promptly to wildlife incidents .






  5. Research & Conservation Innovation





    • Scientific monitoring, adoption of AI-enabled tools (e.g., vulture tracking to detect poaching), captive breeding & re‑introduction (e.g., rhinos at Ziwa).






  6. Policy Enforcement & Legislation





    • Enforcing the Wildlife Act, handling human–wildlife conflict, and imposing penalties on illegal activities .










? Noteworthy Initiatives




  • AI-driven vulture tracking in Murchison Falls NP helps detect poaching via behavioral alerts.




  • Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary partnership: UWA supports rhino re‑introduction, now home to ~41 rhinos.




  • Lion and carnivore monitoring at Queen Elizabeth NP through Uganda Carnivore Program.








? Why It Matters


UWA’s work ensures:





  • Biodiversity preservation across diverse ecosystems (savannahs, forests, mountains).




  • Economic impact through wildlife tourism.




  • Community upliftment via jobs, revenue sharing, and education.




  • Global conservation leadership with innovative, scalable technologies.








? Learn More & Get Involved




  • Official website: ugandawildlife.org




  • Social media: Active on Facebook (over 71K likes) and X/Twitter.




  • For permits & visits: Obtain trekking permits, park passes, and book guided safaris directly via UWA.



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