CORPORATE REPORT 2019 Conserving for Generations CORPORATE REPORT 2019 Published by : Uganda Wildlife Authority 7 Kira Road Kamwokya P.O.Box, Kampala Uganda Tel: +256 414 355 000 Fax: +256 414 546 291 Email: [email protected] www.ugandawildlife.org ugandawildlifeauthority ugandawildlife © 2019 Uganda Wildlife Authority Table Of Contents ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS I WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES II STATEMENT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR III UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY 8TH BOARD OF TRUSTEE IV UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY TOP MANAGEMENT V 01 RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT 1 02 ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AND RESEARCH 11 03 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION 14 04 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 24 05 CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 31 06 GOVERNANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS 35 07 REVENUE PERFORMANCE 44 CHALLENGES 46 Abbreviations and Acronyms AUTO Association Of Uganda Tour Operators WCS Wildlife Conservation Society AWF African Wildlife Fund WR Wildlife Reserve BINP Bwindi Impenetrable National Park WUR Wildlife Use Rights BMCA Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area CTPH Conservation through Public Health CA Conservation Area IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature CC Community Conservation ICGP International Gorilla Conservation Programme CEDP Competiveness and Enterprise Development Project ITFC Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation CPF Central Processing Facility BMCT Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust CWA Community Wildlife Association UPDF Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force CWS Community Wildlife Scouts NRCN Natural Resources Conservation Network DRC Democratic Republic of Congo MLHUD Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development EIA Environment Impact Assessment ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESIA Environment Social Impact Assessment NEMA National Environment Management Authority GVTC Great Virunga Transboundary Conservation ERA Electricity Regulatory Authority HWC Human Wildlife Conflict BCFS Budongo Conservation Field Station IWT Illegal Wildlife Trade DTRA Defence Threat Reduction Agency KAFRED Kibale Association of Rural and Environment GCF Giraffe Conservation Foundation Development UWEC Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre KCA Kibale Conservation Area RBD Ranger Based Data KCL Kidepo Conservation Landscape FFI Fauna and Flora International KVCA Kidepo Valley Conservation Area RDB Rwanda Development Board LMNP Lake Mburo National Park ICCN Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature MENP Mountain Elgon National Park ICGP International Gorilla Conservation Programme MFNP Murchison Falls National Park IIED International Institute for Environment and MGNP Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Development MoU Memorandum of Understanding CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered NEAP National Elephant Action Plan Species NEMA National Environment Management Authority DLG District Local Government NFA National Forestry Authority UCC Uganda Communication Commission NGO Non- Government Organisation RCDF Rural Communications Development Fund OPM Office of Prime Minister ICT Information Communication Technology PA Protected Area HWC Human Wildlife Conflict PAC Problem Animal Committee SAS Senior Assistant Secretaries QEPA Queen Elizabeth Protected Area MoU Memorandum of Understanding RMNP Rwenzori Mountain National Park KCWA Karenga Community Wildlife Area SMART Special Monitoring And Reporting Tool VIC Visitor Information Centre SNP Semuliki National Park FY Financial Year TOC Transnational Organised Crime KCCA Kampala Capital City Authority TSWR Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve FC Football Club UNAA Uganda North American Association EMWR East Madi Wildlife Reserve UNCST Uganda National Council of Science and Technology BoT Board pf Trustees UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural NIAP National Ivory Action Plan Organisation GMP General Management Plan UTA Uganda Tourism Association CBO Community Based Organization UVRI Uganda Virus Research Institute NGO None Government Organization UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority KM Kilometre VIC Visitor Information Centre KG Kilogram WCO World Customs Organisation CORPORATE REPORT 2019 I Foreword WORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES communities neighbouring the national parks and we shall continue to ensure that Management further strengthens UWA’s relationship with communities. I commend the management and staff of UWA for the great strides in the management of the protected areas and conservation of wildlife, which has in turn greatly boosted our tourism sector. I wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities and the Permanent Secretary for their support and guidance towards UWA. They have over the years continued to play a Mr. Benjamin Nelson Otto critical role in offering a sense of direction. Chairman I extend our sincere appreciation to our partners who ildlife plays an important role in Uganda’s have continuously supported conservation work in tourism sector in promoting tourism Uganda. Your support is not taken for granted and it W which is a significant contributor to the has moved the organization to where it is now. country’s foreign earnings. Wildlife is not only a source of revenue but also provides employment This annual corporate report is therefore accountability to Ugandans hence effectively contributing to the to all sector players and the general public of what we country’s overall Gross Domestic Product and the are doing in executing the mandate of the institution achievement of Vision 2040. in line with its vision and mission. During the reporting period, Cable News Network I am convinced that Uganda Wildlife Authority is (CNN) ranked Kidepo Valley National Park as the moving in the right direction as it strives to become second most beautiful park out of the top 8 best the leading, self-sustaining wildlife conservation safari destinations in Africa. This is because of its agency that transforms Uganda into one of the best thriving wildlife and growing tourist appeal. ecotourism destinations in Africa. Conserving for Generations. The period also saw an increase in visitor numbers to national parks and corresponding revenues. An increase in revenues reaffirms the authority’s capacity to grow and do more conservation work as enshrined in its mandate. Other achievements have been registered in the area of law enforcement, enterprise Benjamin Nelson Otto development and benefit sharing with communities, Chairman UWA Board of Trustees fighting invasive species and infrastructure development among others. These achievements are a result of our robust conservation efforts by ensuring that our parks remain true to the definition of a national park and continue to be a dream of many to visit at least in a lifetime. We have achieved this through working closely with CORPORATE REPORT 2019 II Foreword STATEMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR funding towards improving community livelihoods where a total of UGX 6,921,792,590= revenue sharing funds was disbursed to various districts towards supporting livelihoods of communities neighbouring the protected areas. We equally engaged in activities that create more visibility for the organization. We have improved on our media relations and our relationships with other stakeholders through participation in various events including sports. Law enforcement activities were further strengthened Samuel John Mwandha with intensified patrols in all conservation areas with Executive Director and Board Secretary a number of suspects arrested for involvement in wildlife crimes such as poaching, illegal possession of am pleased to present to you the annual wildlife products/specimens, and wildlife trafficking corporate report highlighting the organizational among others. The suspects were prosecuted in performance for the financial year 2018/2019 I the courts of law and a good number of convictions secured. It focuses on the implementation of management programs based on the Annual Operations Plan On a sad note however, the authority lost staff (AOP). The major achievements registered during including Sgt. Asasira Philemon, Team Leader the financial year are clearly highlighted as well Investigations in QECA who died in an operation to as the challenges faced while implementing the arrest ivory dealers, Pte.Wajamboka Bosco attached activities. to MECA who was knocked by a speeding vehicle in Mbale Town, Cpl. Patrick Odule who was killed by The security in and around the Protected Areas (PAs) community members in Bududa district and private was generally calm with no serious negative security Samson Dhiwerera who was hacked by communities issues reported save for some incidences of attacks in Swam area. Management is following up the from armed South Sudanese warriors to Kidepo matters with relevant authorities to ensure that the Valley National Park, kidnap of a tourist in Queen staff assailants face justice. May their Souls rest in Elizabeth National Park, reported Ebola threats at eternal peace. the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border and hostile communities in MENP that killed two of Despite the challenges of inadequate human Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) staff. resources and financial resources, we have continued to register remarkable successes through frugality The Gorilla census for Bwindi Impenetrable National in the use of the available resources. We hope to do Park (BINP) Gorilla commenced with the first sweep more work in executing our mandate of conserving being successfully conducted between March and Uganda’s wildlife resources with