Uganda Wildlife Authority Gets New Board Members 

Cabinet has passed the new approved 9th Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Board of Trustees to serve for the next 3 years. The Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Judith Nabakooba announced this resolution following cabinet’s Monday, June 1, 2020 sitting.

The new Uganda Wildlife Authority Board is to be chaired by Dr Kasoma Pantaleon Mukasa Banda who replaces long-serving Benjamin Otto, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry.

Dr Kasoma has close to a quarter-century of experience in environmental and natural resources management with a strong academic background, having risen from the rank of Special Assistant to Associate Professor of Makerere University. Currently, Dr Kasoma is the Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), a global nonprofit organization. He is, therefore, very knowledgeable in the conservation and management of protected areas.

“The 9th Board is expected to build on the progress made by the 8th board of trustees in steering the institution to mitigating human-wildlife conflict; control[ling] proliferation of invasive species; combating poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and trafficking; and promoting ecotourism and product development,” tweeted Nabakooba.

The other members include  Kagumaho Kakuyu, Engineer; Ivan Batuma Mbabazi; Dr. Akankwasah Barirega Yahya; Kobusingye Ireeba Annet; Peter Ojede Francis; Anna Rose Ademun Okurut; Nandutu Harriet; and Jane Bagonza.

Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director Sam Mwandha will continue to serve as an ex-officio member on the board and as secretary.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is a semi-autonomous government agency that is tasked with conserving, managing and regulating the countries wildlife both in and outside protected areas.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority currently manages ten (10) national parks, twelve (12) wildlife reserves, 5 Community Wildlife Management Areas, fourteen (14) wildlife sanctuaries. 4 Ramsar sites, 3 Man and Biosphere (MAB) reserves and 1 site on the provisional world heritage list.

Uganda National Parks (Game Parks)

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
2. Kibale National Park
3. Kidepo Valley National Park
4. Lake Mburo National Park
5. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
6. Mount Elgon National Park
7. Murchison Falls National Park
8. Queen Elizabeth National Park
9. The Rwenzori Mountains National Park
10. Semliki National Park

Uganda Wildlife Reserves (Game Reserves)

1. Ajai Wildlife Reserve
2. Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
3. Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
4. Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
5. Karuma Wildlife Reserve
6. Katonga Wildlife Reserve
7. Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
8. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
9. Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
10. Toro-Semiliki Wildlife Reserve
11. Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
12. East Madi Wildlife Reserve

Ramsar Sites in Uganda

1. Lake Opeta
2. Lake Bisina
3. Lutembe Bay
4. Mabamba Bay