UWA Gets New Board Members

The Uganda Wildlife Authority the body charged with the protection and managing of Uganda’s wildlife has been dogged by allegations of misuse of funds for different projects including such as the Protected Areas Management for Sustainable Use – PAMSU fund.

The investigations into the misuse led to the disbandment of the entire board that was replaced by acting directors. The previous board headed by Dr Boysier Oumar Muballe was dissolved by a High Court ruling after it was deemed illegal. However, there has now been a new board of trustees that have been announced. They come from different backgrounds ranging from tour operators, conservationists, hoteliers as well as honorary wildlife officers.

Mr. Ben Otto the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Tourism and Education has been appointed the Chairman of the new Uganda Wildlife Authority Board.

Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu said the new board members have been appointed from various backgrounds basing on their expertise and competence. They took into consideration the different needs and criteria required to be on the board.

However, many stakeholders claim that the appointment of MR. Khan Mani who is a member of the Madhvani Group of Companies who have for a long time now had an interest in building a golf course in Murchison falls national park was not appropriate. Conservationists have for a long time resisted the move although it was approved by the President.

According to Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu however, everyone one has a vested interest in the conservation of wildlife. He also stated that the Wildlife Act has a clause that asks any one to declare their interest in any matter before it is discussed. The Madhivani Group of companies have several safari lodges in the different national parks notably Paraa safari lodge in Murchison falls National park and Mweya safari lodge in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Mr. Mani Khan was appointed to the board as a representative of hoteliers who are a stakeholder in the tourism industry in Uganda. According to Prof. Kamuntu, the board is full of stakeholders who all have an interest in the conservation of the country’s wildlife.

Many legal experts say that if Mr. Khan is to take up his position on the board he should resign his position with the Madhvani group.

According to Mr. Andrew Sseguya, the acting Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body has been plagued with a shortage of staff with a shortage of over 1,000 game rangers. There has been rampart encroachment on protected areas, poor funding of Uganda’s tourism as well as massive poaching. We ran an article about the state of Uganda national parks with regard to Massive poaching. This article can be found here.