Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) PREAMBLE Uganda Wildlife Authority prepared this General Management Plan with funds internally generated. Prepared by: Uganda Wildlife Authority: Conservation Department Edited by: Uganda Wildlife Authority Planning Unit Layout and Design: Edgar Buhanga Justine Namara Cover photograph: Zebras and Tourists on game drive Page ( i ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) APPROVAL The Uganda Wildlife Authority Board of Trustees approved this General Management Plan for implementation at its sitting of 25th February 2015 at UWA headquarters Dr. Andrew G. Seguya Mr. Benjamin Otto Executive Director Chairman, Board of Trustees Page ( ii ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) FOREWORD Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) recognizes the importance of planning as a management tool and as such preparation of General Management Plans (GMPs) for Protected Areas is a statutory requirement. In reduction.fulfillment Itof has this been requirement, ten years UWAsince is we systematically signed off the preparing last management GMPs for plan all her that Protected ran from Areas 2003 (PA’s)to 2013. to realize their potential in biodiversity conservation, tourism development and contribute towards poverty increase in numbers for most wildlife species. The Zebra and Impala more than doubled while other species The last ten years have been years of great achievements for Lake Mburo National Park, registering an increase in visitation levels and tourism revenues rose from less than 200 million in 2003 to 1.5 billion in showed a positive growth trend. Over the ten years of implementing the GMP, the park also registered an registering improved relations with our neighbors. However these positive trends have not been without challenges.2013. The revenue The changes sharing in thefunds vegetation that were of disbursed the park becomingto the surrounding thick bush communities and woodland more have than led doubled, grazers of water within the surrounding pastoral area has been a challenge that has put pressure on the park asto prefera source more of wateropen areasand pasture in the surrounding especially during ranches the often dry conditions.causing conflicts This Generalwith the Management ranch owners. Plan Lack is therefore aimed at providing Lake Mburo National Park with guidance towards sustainable management of the natural ecosystems for their proper functioning in order to provide the services. The plan will also ensure proper development of both administrative and tourism infrastructure and facilities in order to realize the full potential of Lake Mburo National Park in contributing to the development given the fact that tourism is the engine of economic growth of this country. The mission of Uganda Wildlife Authority is to “conserve, economically develop and sustainably manage the wildlife and Protected Areas of Uganda in partnership with neighboring communities and other stakeholders for the benefit of the people of Uganda and the global community areas are prepared with full stakeholder participation. The preparation of this plan was through a ”. Accordingly, GMPs for wildlife protected and regional levels to ensure that all relevant issues were adequately addressed. The Planning Team that preparedmultidisciplinary this GMP and was consultative composed ofapproach UWA staff involving as well variousas other stakeholders stakeholders at from community, the local district, governments national of researchersthe 3 districts and which private neighbor sector Lakerepresentatives. Mburo National Park i.e. Kiruhura, Mbarara and Isingiro. Consultations were held with resource user groups, local community leaders, district leaders, the tourism stakeholders, The UWA Board of Trustees after careful review has also endorsed the implementation of this plan by their approval at their sitting on 25th February 2015 at UWA headquarters. This plan that is therefore a product futureof wide generations. consultations will enjoy the support of all stakeholders, to enhance the achievement of conservation and management objectives of Lake Mburo National Park for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and It is therefore with great pleasure that I now entrust the Conservation Area Manager of Lake Mburo (2015-2025). Conservation Area, with the authority to implement this General Management Plan for the next 10 years Dr. Andrew G. Seguya EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Page ( iii ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) ACKNOWLEDGMENT Uganda Wildlife Authority would like to thank all people who participated in preparation of this management plan. Special thanks go to the following people who were members of the Planning Team and worked tirelessly to prepare this GMP: Buhanga Edgar, Namara Justine, Namuli Susan, Tusubira Justus, Nakayenze Christine Lynn, Bwire Isaiah, Mbagaya Robert, Murinda Michael, Kaijutsya Robert, Namara Deborah, Mwesigye Joseph, Musingwire Jeconious, Malingi Sam and Charles Atuhe. Mr. John Makombo and Mr. Charles Tumwesigye provided oversight of the whole planning process and their effort is greatly appreciated. of the Board of Trustees who were involved in one way or the other in preparation of this plan. UWA appreciates the contributions of all her staff, partners, stakeholders, local communities and members Page ( iv ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) ACRONYMS ACCA Ankole Cow Conservation Association ACAO Assistant Chief Administrative Officer AOP Annual Operations Plan AWF African Wildlife Foundation BDM Business Development Manager BoT Board of Trustees CA Conservation Area CAM Conservation Area Manager CAO Chief Administrative Officer CBO Community Based Organization CC Contracts Committee CCC Community Conservation Coordinator CCO Community Conservation Officer CDO Community Development Officer CE Chief Engineer CEC Conservation Education Centre CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CM Concessions Manager CPI Community Protected Area Institution CSR Cooperate Social Responsibility CVC Cultural Value Conservation Project CWA Community Wildlife Associations DAO District Agricultural Officer DC Director Conservation DCAO Deputy Chief Administrative Officer DCO District Commercial Officer DCDO District Community Development Officer DDC Deputy Director Conservation DEO District Environment Officer DISO District Internal Security Organization Page ( v ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) DPC District Production Coordinator DRC Democratic Republic of Congo DTBS Director Tourism Business services DWRM Directorate of Water Resources Management DVO District Veterinary Officer ED Executive Director EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ENR Environment and Natural Resources FFI Flora and Fauna International FMA FNR Foreign Non Resident FR Foreign Resident GISO Gombolola Internal Security Organization GMP General Management Plan HRM Human Resource Manager IBA Important Bird Area IUCN World Conservation Union IO Intelligence Officer LC Local Council LG Local Government LLG Lower Local Governments LM Legal Manager LMCA Lake Mburo Conservation Area LMNP Lake Mburo National Park MAAIF Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries MoU Memorandum of Understanding MRC Monitoring and Research Coordinator M&R Monitoring and Research MES Manager Engineering Services MME Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation MICE Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events Page ( vi ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) MM Marketing Manager MRO Monitoring and Research Officer NAADS National Agriculture Advisory Services NRO Natural Resources Officer NEMA National Environment Management Authority NGO Non-Governmental Organization NFA National Forestry Authority NFP National Forest Plan PA Protected Area PACU Problem Animal Control Unit PC Partnership Coordinator PAMSU Protected Area Management and Sustainable Use PLC Principal Leal Council PMAC Park Management Advisory Committee RS Revenue Sharing SMRC Senior Monitoring and Research Coordinator SPEIAC Senior Planning and Environment Impact Assessment Coordinator SPEIAO Senior Planning and Environment Impact Assessment Officer TAMP Trans-boundary Agro-System Management Project PRM Public Relations Manager RMNP Rwenzori Mountains National Park SWIC Senior Warden in Charge TM Top Management UCOTA Uganda Community Tourism Association UPDF Uganda Peoples Defense Forces UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority VC Veterinary Coordinator WCC Warden Community Conservation WCS Wildlife Conservation Society W eng. Warden Engineering WIC Warden in Charge Page ( vii ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) WLE Warden Law Enforcement WMR Warden Monitoring and Research WPMAC Wildlife Protected Area Management Committee WT Warden Tourism WWF World Wide Fund for Nature Page ( viii ) - LMCA- GMP (2015-2025) Lake Mburo Conservation Area - General Management Plan (2015 - 2025) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP) covers an area of 370sq.km and lies in south western part of Uganda. protected area lies along the Kampala Mbarara road and it is the only park that is close to Kampala. It It lies in 3 districts of Mbarara, Kiruhura and Isingiro