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THEi | The Wildlife MirrorWILDLIFE ////// Keeping you informed MIRRORKeeping you informed ISSUE 8 MAY 2021 TOURISM PROMOTION ENDS 30TH JUNE 2021 ConservationUganda Wildlife Authority | Tourism | Livelihoods Contents UGANDA CELEBRATES WORLD WILDLIFE DAY . 2 BEE HIVES DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITIES KATONGA . 3 IVORY DEALER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON . 3 STANDARD AND WILDLIFE COURT AT BUGANDA ROAD . 3 NANDI THE FEMALE RHINO AT ZIWA SANCTUARY DIES . 4 NATIONAL WILDLIFE CRIME SECURE INFORMATION SHARING PLATFORM LAUNCHED . 5 28 YOUTHS DENOUNCE POACHING IN PURONGO . 6 SIX ARRESTED OVER THE DEATH OF LIONS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK . 7 TOURISM PROMOTION EXTENDED TO JUNE 2021 . 8 NEW WILDLIFE CONSERVATION POLICY DISSEMINATED . 9 BUILDING HUTS TO ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE ON ON MOUNTAIN MUHAVURA IN MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK . 10 CREATING COMMUNITY AWARENESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP . 12 UWA RECEIVES TWO VEHICLES FOR ANTI-POACHING ACTIVITIES IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK . 13 2 | The Wildlife Mirror ////// Keeping you informed UGANDA CELEBRATES WORLD WILDLIFE DAY Uganda marked World Wildlife Day on forest cover harbors a lot of wildlife which environment and nature in forests . We 3rd March, 2021 in hybrid celebration if replaced will be a big inconvenience will continue our dialogue at all centers largely virtual and broadcast live on to the communities that destroy their to conserve the forests . The EU is key televisions and online channels habitat . “If you destroy a forest and plant committed to step up support to restore blended with a few selected guests sugar cane where will those animals recovery of the depleted forest cover,” invited to Sheraton Kampala in strict previously in the forest go . I can assure said the German Envoy . observance of the COVID- 19 guidelines . you that we shall push on and revive this This year’s celebrations held under industry,” he said . The UNDP Resident Representative the theme “Forests and Livelihoods: Ms . Elsie Attafuah said; “The World Sustaining People and Planet,” were The state Minister for Tourism Godfrey Wildlife Day affords us the opportunity presided over by Hon Rtd Col . Tom Kiwanda Suubi tasked the National to celebrate the fantastic diversity of Butime, the Minister for Tourism Wildlife Forest Authority (NFA) to sensitize the life on earth but also reminds us of our and Antiquities . Other guests included population on the importance of growing noble duty to conserve and sustainably State Minister of Tourism Hon . Kiwanda indigenous trees . Uganda’s population use forests and wildlife in line with Suubi, UNDP resident representative Ms . is currently over 40 million but statistics the objectives of the 2030 Agenda Elsie Attafuah, Representatives from indicate that by 2031 we shall have hit for Sustainable Development and the European Union, Permanent Secretary 75 million . This trend is worrying given Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .” MTWA Doreen Katusiime, Executive the statistics showing how depleted the She listed the goals as 1 (No Poverty), Director Sam Mwandha UWA together country’s’ forest cover has depreciated 2 (Zero hunger) 12 (Ensure sustainable with heads of agencies under MTWA . from 24% in 1990 to 9% currently . The consumption and production patterns), discussion regarding how worrying 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land) . In his remarks to mark the day, Col . the situation is and what needs to be Attafuah said the focus is not simply Butime Tom explained that government dominated this year’s World Wildlife Day about forests providing habitats for was committed and supports forest celebrations with a key note speaker wildlife, but it is about development that restoration and preservation . Col . Butime Dr . Robert Bitariho with ED UWA Sam harnesses the full potential of economies noted that communities have extensively Mwandha, ED NFA Tom Okello and WWF that are nature based . “It is about food benefited from existence of forests many ED David Duli discussing his presentation . security, energy security, water security times directly earning from it . He said and human security, among others,” she for example communities with forested The EU representative emphasized the said . She said that forests contribute parks like Bwindi and Kibale get 20% of importance of conservation “The value immensely to economic growth, the revenue from forest parks that goes of protecting forests like Bugoma is employment, wealth creation, export to contribute to their welfare as result far higher than the investments . The revenues which are a livelihood source of their coexistence . He explained that degradation of forests hurts human for many communities . EU and UNDP representatives, Minister Hon . Col . Tom Butime and MTWA PS at the opening ceremony WWD Uganda Wildlife Authority Issue 8 May 2021 | 3 Guests attending the function Wildlife Conservation Media Award went to Vision Group Journalist Gerald Tenywa, while Uganda Lodges and Great Lakes Safaris Chief Executive Amos Wekesa scooped the Sustainable Eco Tourism Award . Her Worship Justice Gladys Kamasanyu won an award for her role in countering poaching . The Head of the Wildlife Court in Africa has helped increase rate of conviction due to poaching by over 80% . This year’s Key note speaker was Prof . Robert Bitariho who gave a snapshot of the depleted forest cover in Uganda . He said unless these issues are handled immediately, the situation will get Gerald Tenywa receives Outstanding Contribution to wildlife Conservation Award worse by 2031 when the population shoots up to 75 million . Tom Okello the The President Uganda TourismCONSERVATIONIST Executive Director National Forestry Association Pearl Hoareau Kizito said RECOGNIZED Authority acknowledged that there is a the reduction of the forest cover from 24 lot of illegal timber falling in gazetted At the event, conservationist of the percent to now 9% due to human activities forest areas . He however said the environment and biodiversity were such as agriculture and settlement is depletion of the forest cover was honored for their contribution towards worrying . She said the tourism sector registered in privately owned forest protection of fauna and flora . Those has been having a campaign to protect areas . The Executive Director Uganda who received awards included: African Bugoma forest that was given away to Wildlife Authority (UWA) Sam Mwandha Wildlife Foundation - for supporting an investor (Hoima Sugar) to grow sugar noted that they have had an increase in Canine Units, Achilles Byaruhanga won cane . “Such acts must not be allowed forest cover in government protected the individual award for his conservation under our watch, our children’s watch, areas but had massive degradation in efforts while Capt . Joseph Charles Roy and the children of our children’s watch,” private cover . He observed that “without was recognized for shipping in the Rhino she said . forests our survival is in jeopardy .” Species and donating the land where the Rhino Sanctuary is located . Conserving for Generations 4 | The Wildlife Mirror ////// Keeping you informed BEE HIVES DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITIES KATONGA are improved through provision of alternative livelihoods . Apiaries have over time proved to offer more tangible benefits with most communities adjacent to the protected areas appreciative of them . Apart from money they generate as a result of harvesting honey, they also act as a deterrent to elephants averting a serious Human Wildlife Conflict issue . It is therefore hoped that with more beehives distributed, UWA will get in touch even Front line Communities in KCA receive Bee hives more with its host communities who in turn will appreciate the value of wildlife conservation . This will improve on the Katonga Wildlife Reserve in Kibale Komaho thanked the management of relationship between the park and Conservation Area in February, 2021 Katonga Wildlife Reserve for the initiative frontline villages . distributed has 08 bee hives as part and urged the communities to continue The beehive initiative benefits many of its outreach program with frontline with the support towards conservation . groups of people as opposed to communities that surround the park . The beehives are intended to be used individuals . It is also easy to monitor and Each community was given 08 bee by beneficiary communities as apiaries determine misuse by a given community hives . The beehives were handed over to not only boost their livelihoods and member . Previously, Uganda Wildlife to communities of Bigoli parish in improve household incomes but also Authority has supported numerous Kamwenge district by Warden In Charge serve as a problem animal management alternative projects in communities that Katonga wildlife reserve Matanda and tactic for big animals . It is anticipated that include goat rearing and piggery but the sub county chief Biguli Komaho Simeon . this will further reduce illegal activities projects had been misused by beneficiary within the park once people’s incomes families . IVORY DEALER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON Awili David, a 47-year-old resident of Angwee cell, Abim town council, Abim district was sentenced to 20 years in prison or a fine of 12 million for being found in possession of 41 .38 Kgs of ivory . He was sentenced on March 10, 2020 by Chief Magistrate Ayo Mariam Okello of the Utilities, Standard and Wildlife Court at Buganda road . The UWA prosecution team lead by Akello Gladys told court that Awili had been a known suspected ivory dealer who plied his trade around Lira town for some time Confiscated Ivory before his arrest . Under the new wildlife law 2019, prosecution requested for a success rate has been perfect from of high levels of poaching attributed to deterrent custodial sentence that would September 2019 when it came into illegal trade in ivory and its products . enable the accused to reform and also force” he said . He argued Ugandans Currently, the larger populations of send a strong message to any intending to join hands with UWA and protect elephants in Uganda are found in ivory traffickers to desist from the vice Uganda’s wildlife instead of decimating Queen Elizabeth with other herds in lest the strong arm of the law catches up it .