Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian narrates her love for gorillas and passion for public health Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | When news broke that Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka had published her memoir, it sparked excitement because she has dedicated her life to conservation and looking after gorillas. For those who have visited …
Read More »Tourism Ministry steps in, calls for calm on gorilla permit fraud
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities has confirmed reports of illegal sales of gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits and urged Ugandans to remain calm as a thorough investigation is conducted. In the past week, media reports have exposed a syndicated defraud of gorilla …
Read More »Tour operators fear business loss as UWA grapples with gorilla permit scandal
Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tour operators in Uganda fear they will lose business because of the scandal involving the illicit sale of gorilla tracking permits. The scandal, which recently came to light, has resulted in significant losses for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), exceeding 11.2 billion Shillings (USD …
Read More »Government sets a UGX 200B target for new UWA board
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has tasked the new Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) board of trustees to double the Authority’s revenue collections to Shillings 200 billion. Comprising ten dedicated individuals, this board not only plays a pivotal role in advancing the development of the Authority but also oversees …
Read More »UWA introduces online mountain gorilla tracking
Bwindi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandans and foreign visitors now have a chance to navigate to Mountain Gorilla hosting national parks through a mobile phone-based application. In the past, visitors had to physically visit the Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda to see the Mountain Gorillas. …
Read More »Uganda Wildlife Authority arrested 2,837 poachers in 2022
Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A total of 2,837 suspects were arrested over alleged poaching and possession of wild animal products in protected conservation areas in Uganda in the years 2021-2022, according to figures released by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The arrests were made during patrols conducted by rangers …
Read More »UWA releases 58 impounded African grey parrots
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 58 African Grey Parrots have been released back to the wild after more than a year of treatment and rehabilitation at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation and Education Centre (UWEC). The birds impounded from traffickers at the Uganda-Rwanda at Bunagana in 2022 were destined for the …
Read More »UWA calls for removal of human settlement in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has identified the phasing out of 11 human settlements within Queen Elizabeth National Park as the only long-term solution to the persistent human-wildlife conflict in the area. The presence of these communities has posed a significant challenge, resulting in the …
Read More »Electric fence rekindles love for elephants
Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Elephants used to be a nuisance for most residents living in the farming village of Kyenzaza in Kirugu sub-county in Rubirizi, one of the seven districts that border Queen Elizabeth National Park. But, following the construction of an electric fence along the park boundary in …
Read More »Tourism sector losing up sh300million annually due to unfulfilled concessions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The tourism sector is losing over Shillings 300 million worth of business annually due to unfulfilled concessions signed with various developers in the country’s protected areas. To develop the tourism sector, the government, through the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA, has signed development concession agreements to …
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