BREAKING THE PARADOX OF POVERTY AMIDST PLENTY: How Locals Are Supporting Wildlife Conservation  

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LAKE MBURO CONSERVATION AREA: Rubare community development association (apiary group) at Rubare fishing village in Rwonyo cell, Rwabaraata parish Sanga sub county Kiruhura district with more than 50 members owning over 200 beehives in Lake Mburo National Park.




STORY BY AARON AINOMUGISHA, Western Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA has continuously implemented community conservation to combat wildlife crime inside and outside different national parks, an approach that has compelled locals around Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda to embrace community projects to support wildlife conservation.









Lake Mburo National Park is a home to over 340 bird species and wildlife animals like zebras, buffalos, leopards, hyenas, and other wildlife that continue to be endangered by wildlife crimes, a similar threat to wildlife in other parks like Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibaale, and others across the country.







The persistent wildlife crime cases have forced concerned locals to champion community projects to support wildlife conservation, as UWA also intensifies its community conservation programmes to address the paradox of poverty amidst plenty.  Lake Mburo National Park conservation area covers districts like Isingiro, Kiruhura and Mbarara.







Mr. Kanyesigye Gad “The Patriot”, a wildlife and environmental conservationist in Nyabushozi county, doubling as youth councillor Sanga town council in Kiruhura district, has so far impacted over 500 locals under an initiative to support wildlife conservation through community projects like making bags, belts, shoes/sandals and other leather products, making charcoal briquettes, sensitization about wildlife and biodiversity conservation, and other community interventions. He says wildlife can’t survive without safe environment and climate or green canopy.




Women group after a skilling session, and training about wildlife and environmental conservation in Sanga,Kiruhura district.

“People continue to cut down trees and trucks of charcoal pass here every day heading to major towns. Where does this leave our national park? Where does this leave the natural habitats for wild animals, birds and our tourism industry? Since we have Lake Mburo National Park in Kiruhura, I decided to train and sensitize people, and it has been successful,” Gad explained.







Gad says the ongoing community projects are targeting areas near Lake Mburo National Park like Sanga sub county and Sanga town council, and other areas where poachers are usually harbored like in Rushere, Kikatsi, Kashongi, and other hotspots.







Charcoal briquettes made by these women.
Mr. Kanyesigye Gad “The Patriot”, a wildlife and environmental conservationist in Nyabushozi county, doubling as youth councillor Sanga town council in Kiruhura district.

He wants the government to increase support for initiatives that engage local communities and mobilize them against activities endangering flora and fauna, through mindset change and skilling.




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WHAT IS COMMUNITY CONSERVATION?   UWA implements activities including community interaction with locals living near the protected areas.




The locals are also supported under community associations or groups to create and benefit from socioeconomic projects like apiary, goat rearing, aquaculture and other activities inside and near the parks.




Under revenue sharing, UWA also gives 20% of park entrance collections to the local community in form of support to these groups or projects like constructing water dams and classroom blocks, and other support to build a strong relationship with local communities.




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The people near the park also benefit from resource harvesting where they are allowed to uproot invasive plant species and collecting dry wood like acacia on Wednesdays and Saturdays to use it or sell it as firewood, fishing on lakes like Mburo, and other benefits.  Goat keepers are also given metallic mesh and strong poles by UWA to protect their goats from being attacked by leopards, prioritizing children of prominent poachers for job opportunities, engaging local leaders, and other programmes.




SUCCESS STORIES. According to UWA, this has enabled it to receive information from locals about poachers in their areas. Locals also report stranded and problem wildlife animals on their land instead of killing them.




Women, girls and children benefiting from community projects supporting wildlife conservation https://x.com/RiseNewsUganda/status/1805468612943020290 




UWA adds that the locals are reporting dead animals instead of exposing their health to zoonotic diseases by eating these animals, locals promoting sensitization within their communities, socioeconomic transformation through community conservation programmes by UWA, and other visible impact.




RELATED STORY – Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda-CCFU hands over 2 facilities to Pakwach Art & Craft Association and Mubaku Sound of Nile Adungu Group, as groups’ office premises and souvenir shops, around Murchison falls national park https://x.com/RiseNewsUganda/status/1794016086658003035




HOW ARE LOCALS EMBRACING COMMUNITY CONSERVATION?  In Lake Mburo National Park, the Community Conservation Warden, Ms. Lavynah Mbambu Marule said UWA is working jointly with local communities to fight wildlife crime, and they are responding positively.




Zebras and cows in Lake Mburo National Park.

Groups that have benefited from these community projects and are progressing include Rubare apiary group at Rubare fishing village in Rwonyo cell, Rwabaraata parish Sanga sub county Kiruhura district with more than 50 members owning over 200 beehives, Kiribwa dramactors in Rwabaraata Kiruhura, Masha Group in Isingiro district, and others with ecotourism projects in areas of Masha, Nshaara, Rwenjeru, and other areas.




Kiribwa dramactors group in Kiribwa village Rwabaraata parish Sanga sub county Kiruhura district. They are supporting wildlife conservation through talent, and they entertain tourists to earn a living.

ADDRESSING THE PARADOX OF POVERTY AMIDST PLENTY. Mr. Twebaze Paul, an Environmental Management and Natural Resource Expert and Conservationist explains. He is a research fellow at Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment-ACODE, and Lead Technical Advisor at Pro-biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda-PROBICOU.




Mr. Twebaze Paul is a research fellow at Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment-ACODE, and Lead Technical Advisor at Pro-biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda-PROBICOU.

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LOCAL VOICES.    “Poaching has increased domestic violence because our men are spending days in the park hunting. UWA and government should increase operations,” a mother of four, in Sanga explains.




“People used to think we sell bush meat, but now the suspicion has reduced. Even those from Mbarara come and buy,” a butcher in Buremba.




“Some of the people fear to report to rangers, but they report to LC 1 chairpersons and the chairpersons report to rangers,” a ranger inside Lake Mburo national park.




WHAT OTHER STAKEHOLDERS HAVE TO SAY. Mr. Atuhairwe Adson, the District Vice Chairperson Kiruhura and District Councillor representing Kitura sub county says the locals should be sensitized, and UWA should continue working with Local Government, especially the areas hosting national parks.




Mr. Owembabazi Osbert, the President Bishop Stuart University-BSU Wildlife Club wants UWA to support more student clubs since they also have an influence in the society, which could play a big role in promoting and sustaining wildlife conservation.




WORKING WITH THE MEDIA TO COMBAT WILDLIFE CRIME. On several occasions, UWA through the Communication Manager Hajji Bashir Hangi, has rallied journalists to promote wildlife conservation reporting.




Between January and June 2023, UWA trained different journalists in western Uganda and other parts of the country, equipping them with skills to extensively report about wildlife conservation.




RELATED STORY – BOOSTING TOURISM: WHERE IS UGANDA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM JOURNALISM?




TOURISM AND WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING TRENDS. Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Ministry data confirms that Uganda earned a record-breaking over Ugx105.3 billion in 2023.




Handling of wildlife crimes in Uganda has greatly improved since the establishment of the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court in 2017, a critical move in boosting the country’s tourism sector and economic development.




RELATED STORY – WORLD WILDLIFE CRIME REPORT 2024: Africa accounts for 19%







Uganda continues to join the rest of the world to combat wildlife crime, with the World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 indicating that Africa accounts for 19% of total seizures of illegally harvested flora and fauna.




Wildlife conservationists and authorities are now calling for more interventions to combat wildlife crime through community conservation.









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