Uganda Wildlife Authority has pledged increased support to tourism businesses operating lodges inside protected areas, following a high-level engagement with concessionaires held today at Protea Hotel in Kampala.

The meeting brought together UWA top management and owners of facilities that are located within national parks and wildlife reserves to discuss challenges affecting their operations and explore ways to strengthen partnerships for conservation and tourism growth.

UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi, who presided over the meeting, said the Authority remains committed to creating an enabling environment for concessionaires to thrive, noting that their success directly supports conservation financing. “We want to ensure that your businesses are supported to thrive, because when they thrive, you give us more revenue,” Dr. Musinguzi said. “The success of our concessionaires is significant for our conservation work.”

During the meeting, concessionaires raised several concerns, such as poaching, the need to minimise delays, and

streamline payments, especially those charged to tourists staying inside the parks.  They also called for the development of new tourism products to increase visitor numbers and extend stays, as well as the establishment of ranger posts near lodges to improve security.

In his response, Dr. Musinguzi acknowledged the importance of developing more tourism products to keep Uganda’s parks attractive to visitors. He encouraged concessionaires to propose new ideas, noting that as key players in the sector, their input is vital. “We recognize the need for more products that keep tourists engaged longer in the parks,” he said. “As UWA, we are open to engaging further on your suggestions and will support efforts that improve the overall visitor experience.”

He also emphasized the importance of synergy between the private sector and UWA, calling on concessionaires to share their expertise and play a proactive role in supporting conservation. “We need your expertise and support to do a good job. Conservation and tourism must go hand in hand, and we must strike the right balance between protecting nature and delivering quality visitor experiences,” he added.

Dr. Musinguzi further revealed that UWA is set to recruit more rangers to boost security and law enforcement in protected areas, and plans to launch a Zero Tolerance to Poaching campaign. “We are soon launching a zero tolerance to poaching, and we need your support,” he said, urging stakeholders to work together to curb illegal wildlife activities. He further informed the concessionaires that UWA is also expanding its use of modern technologies, including drones, camera traps, GPS tracking systems, and Earth Ranger software to improve monitoring, surveillance, and response to threats. “Technology is now a key pillar in how we  monitor and protect our wildlife,” Dr. Musinguzi noted.

On regulatory matters, UWA clarified that night game drives are only permitted for tourists staying overnight within the parks to avoid disturbing wildlife and to ensure safety.

The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to ongoing dialogue, enhanced service delivery, and closer collaboration between UWA and concessionaires, particularly on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) aimed at improving waste management in the parks and advancing sustainable tourism and conservation in Uganda’s protected areas.

ENDS