A mid calls from a section of state officials to boost funding for wildlife conservation, government has announced an increase in investment, recognizing wildlife conservation as a key pillar for tourism development.

This initiative aims to address the challenges currently facing the conservation sector, including climate disruptions, human-wildlife conflicts, underdeveloped tourism infrastructure, encroachment on wildlife reserves, degradation of natural habitats, and the need for sensitization programs that promote sustainable farming practices that do not harm wildlife or ecosystems.

According to Global Forest Watch, between 2001 and 2023, Uganda experienced a 14% reduction in green cover, equating to a loss of approximately 918,000 hectares. This decline resulted in the emission of around 413 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, posing a severe danger to both humans and wildlife, as well as threatening the country’s tourism industry.

Against this backdrop, President Museveni, through the minister of Health, Jane Ruth Acheng—who represented him at the World Wildlife day celebrations at Akii Bua stadium in Lira City on March 3, 2025—stated that Uganda would make substantial investments in wildlife conservation to prevent further loss of green cover.

The event, themed “Wildlife Conservation Financing: Investing in People and the Planet,” brought together members of parliament, permanent secretaries, local government leaders, cultural and religious leaders, development partners, private sector representatives, conservation groups, NGOs and other distinguished guests.

Organized by the Tourism ministry in collaboration with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and other stakeholders like Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the event provided a platform to exchange ideas, showcase solutions, and discuss how innovative financing can contribute to Uganda’s biodiversity preservation efforts.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Uganda welcomed approximately 1.3 million visitors in 2024, a number President Museveni believes is insufficient.

He said, “We will continue to commit enhanced financing to the wildlife conservation sector to address growing challenges and improve tourism infrastructure, such as roads and associated facilities.”

OFFICIALS DECRY LOW BUDGET

A section of state officials and other stakeholders have consistently cited the unprecedented loss of green cover as being due to the insufficient budget allocated to combat harmful activities that threaten the country’s environment, such as illegal deforestation, encroachment on Ramsar sites, poaching and wetland degradation.

In an interview with The Observer, Tony Gordon Mwidyeki, the district natural resources officer (DNRO) for Mpigi, noted that wetland degradation—threatening the habitats of both aquatic life and bird species—is exacerbated by inefficient monitoring of these areas due to inadequate funding, attracting malicious elements to exploit the wetlands.

“These individuals exploit the insufficient monitoring of the wetland, a situation worsened by logistical limitations,” he said.

“Routine compliance monitoring could solve the issue of wetland encroachment. The challenge is that the department responsible for this has a limited budget and currently lacks a motor vehicle,” Mwidyeki added.

Lira city mayor Sam Atul echoed these sentiments, expressing concern over Uganda’s diminishing wetland cover, which threatens aquatic life and contributes to climate-related disasters. He also criticized the lack of adequate government funding for officers tasked with enforcing strict conservation measures for wetlands.

“In Lira city, we face challenges in preserving nature, especially aquatic life. Many swamps are under threat from those seeking to invest in areas where nature should remain undisturbed.

My appeal to the MPs and ministers here is to empower local governments to protect these ecosystems. Despite having officers responsible for these issues, there is little funding from the central government to support their work. These officers often sit idle, receiving salaries but lacking resources to help protect our ecosystems.”

DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES TO CONSERVATION

The government will develop participatory approaches to wildlife conservation, President Museveni added, by involving local communities in these initiatives so they feel empowered and develop a positive attitude toward protecting Uganda’s flora and fauna.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Doreen Katusiime, represented by Dr Basil Ajer, the Tourism director, highlighted that funding remains a critical challenge for wildlife conservation. She called on the government to allocate more resources to this cause.

“We will continue to collaboratively support initiatives that seek to enhance the country’s opportunities in the wildlife sector. As we celebrate this day, we must reaffirm our collective commitment to protecting our precious wildlife resources through sustainable and innovative financing.”

World Wildlife day, celebrated annually on March 3, was designated by the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013, to raise awareness about the diversity of species that provide essential benefits to humanity.

The decision emphasizes the importance of coordinated local, regional, and international efforts to protect the world’s wildlife and ecosystems.

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