Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is a semi-autonomous Ugandan government agency that aims to conserve, manage and regulate Uganda’s wildlife. "UWA is mandated to ensure sustainable management of wildlife resources and supervise wildlife activities in Uganda, both within and outside the protected areas".[1] As of April 2020, UWA manages ten national parks, twelve wildlife reserves, and fourteen wildlife sanctuaries. UWA also provides guidance for five community wildlife areas. It is governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, currently Tom Butime.[1][2]
 Logo of the UWA | |
  Location in Uganda | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Preceding agency |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Uganda |
| Headquarters | Plot. 7, Kira Road, Kamwookya, Kampala, Uganda 00°20′10″N 32°35′01″E / 0.33611°N 32.58361°E |
| Motto | Conserving for Generations |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Ministers responsible |
|
| Parent department | Wildlife Conservation Department |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities |
| Key document |
|
| Website | www |
Location
editThe headquarters of UWA are located at Plot. 7, Kira Road, in the neighborhood called Kamwookya, in the Central Division of the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital.[3] The UWA headquarters building is sandwiched between the Uganda Museum to the west and the British High Commission to the east, along Kira Road. The geographical coordinates of this location are:0°20'10.0"N, 32°35'01.0"E (Latitude:0.336111, Longitude:32.583611).[4]
Governance
editBoard of trustees
editThe agency is governed by a nine-person board of trustees, appointed by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. The current board, which was appointed in March 2018, is chaired by Benjamin Otto, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism. The board serves for three years. The table below lists all the board members.[5]
| Rank | Name | Position | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Otto | Former PS, Ministry of Tourism | Chairman | [5] |
| 2 | Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka | CEO of Conservation Through Public Health | Member | [5] |
| 3 | Mani Khan | Director of Operations at MARASDA Group | Member | [5] |
| 4 | Captain John Emily Otekat | Former Deputy Director of Operations at UWA | Member | [5] |
| 5 | Boniface Byamukama | Chairman of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) | Member | [5] |
| 6 | Grace Aulo Mbabazi | Commissioner for Tourism in the Ministry of Tourism | Member | [5] |
| 7 | Janat Akorimoe Akech | Former Member of Parliament | Member | [5] |
| 8 | Michael Aliyo | Senior Economist, Ministry of Finance | Member | [5] |
| 9 | Sam Mwandha | Executive Director of UWA | Board Secretary | [5][6] |
Management
editOn 26 March 2018, Sam Mwandha, who was previously employed at UWA in the early 2010s, officially assumed the office of executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority, succeeding Dr. Andrew Seguya, who had served two consecutive three-year terms in that office.[7]
History
editThe UWA was established in August 1996 by the Uganda Wildlife Statute, which merged the Uganda National Parks Department with the Uganda Game and Fisheries Department.[8] In 2000, the Statute became an Act of parliament.[1] The Act was amended in 2019 into the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Uganda Wildlife Authority (29 April 2020). "About Uganda Wildlife Authority". Kampala: Uganda Wildlife Authority. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Tony Ofungi (15 December 2019). "Who is the new Minister of Tourism Wildlife & Antiquities for Uganda Hon.Tom Butime?". Honolulu, Hawaii, United States: eTurboNews.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Uganda Wildlife Authority (29 April 2020). "Uganda Wildlife Authority: Contact Us". Kampala: Uganda Wildlife Authority. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ "Location of the Headquarters of Uganda Wildlife Authority" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Uganda Wildlife Authority (March 2019). "UWA Board of Trustees 2019–2022". Kampala: Uganda Wildlife Authority. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Gerald Tenywa (26 March 2018). "Seguya's Era At UWA Ends Today". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Gerald Tenywa (26 March 2018). "New UWA Executive Director Mwandha Takes Office". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ Oghojafor, Kingsley (2004). Uganda - Countries of the World. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.: Gareth Stevens. p. 64. ISBN 0836831128.
- ^ Eric Ntalumbwa (20 July 2019). "New Wildlife Act 2019 Sets Tough Terms For Encroachers". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 29 April 2020.