Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) yesterday held a formal handover of the instruments of office from outgoing Executive Director, Mr. Sam Mwandha, to Dr. James Musinguzi, who now officially assumes the mantle of leadership.

The handover ceremony took place at UWA Headquarters in Kampala and was graced by the Chief Guest, Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. The event was presided over by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and attended by the Chairman and Members of the UWA Board of Trustees, senior government officials, development and conservation partners, representatives of the private sector, and UWA staff.

In his keynote address, Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka commended Mr. Mwandha for his distinguished service, noting that his tenure as Executive Director significantly enhanced UWA’s conservation footprint, policy credibility, and public trust. The Minister welcomed Dr. James Musinguzi to the new role and challenged him to deepen community engagement, promote innovation in wildlife management, and consolidate the gains made in tourism, biodiversity protection, and institutional development.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Doreen Katusiime hailed Mr. Mwandha for his visionary leadership and transformational reforms that positioned UWA as a model conservation agency. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s support to Dr. Musinguzi as he embarks on steering the Authority through its next phase of growth.

The Chairman of the UWA Board of Trustees, Prof James Kalema, praised Mr. Mwandha for championing transparency, stakeholder confidence, and conservation impact. He welcomed Dr. Musinguzi, pledging the Board’s commitment to providing strategic oversight and support as UWA navigates evolving conservation challenges and opportunities.

In his farewell remarks, Mr. Sam Mwandha expressed gratitude for the privilege of serving UWA and the people of Uganda, highlighting milestones in protected area management, anti-poaching operations, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and infrastructure development. He urged the team to continue working with unity of purpose and remain steadfast in upholding the Authority’s mandate.

The new Executive Director, Dr. James Musinguzi, hailed Sam Mwandha for steering UWA to success. He promised to consolidate the gains registered and build a more vibrant UWA. He outlined a set of priorities to guide the next phase of Uganda Wildlife Authority’s work. Among others, he highlighted;

1. Expanding revenue generation through innovation and diversification of tourism products
2. Strengthening engagement with communities, partners, and the private sector
3. Combating invasive species and restoring degraded habitats at scale
4. Reducing human-wildlife conflict through locally informed, participatory solutions
5. Fighting poaching and ensuring Uganda is not a transit route for wildlife trafickkers
6. Enhancing staff welfare, motivation, and professional development.

He emphasized the need for teamwork and called on all staff to uphold the values of discipline, integrity, and professionalism in carrying out their duties. He reiterated his commitment to inclusive leadership, collaboration, and a shared responsibility to protect Uganda’s natural heritage.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority thanks Mr. Sam Mwandha for his committed service and the many achievements registered during his time as Executive Director. With Dr. James Musinguzi now at the helm, the Authority moves forward with a strong sense of purpose, ready to build on past gains and continue delivering on its conservation mandate.