WWF Supports UWA to Strengthen Community Conservation for Protected Areas

Posted on 22 November 2022

WWF in Uganda developed and handed over 1000 community conservation best practices curriculum handbooks to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

These were handed over to the UWA Director of field operations by WWF finance manager, Bruno Ssemaganda who represented the Ag Country Director.

This was done with financial support from Hempel Foundation under the “a sustainable future for Uganda’s Heritage” project implemented on Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP).

The curriculum covers the thematic areas of; Conservation Education and Awareness, Human Wildlife Conflict Management, Cross Cutting issues in Community Conservation (gender, equity, partnerships) and resources mobilization. It also covers monitoring, evaluation and reporting as well as details on how to monitor implementation of community conservation activities.

While handing over the handbooks, Ssemaganda noted that the Community Conservation Handbooks were developed with an intention to have a unified approach to enhancing wildlife conservation by effectively involving local communities across Uganda’s Protected Areas system.

“We hope that these efforts will increase the value attachment to wildlife and lead to reduction in human wildlife conflicts that are a key challenge to conservation,” he said.

The handbook will be used by community conservation managers, wardens and other community conservation staff as reference designed to be easily consulted and provide quick answers to address challenges in their day to day execution of activities as well as orientation of new staff.

For UWA Director of field Operations Charles Tumwesigye, this will help build capacity of UWA staff especially Community Conservation (CC) and Law Enforcement (LE) staff with hands on knowledge and skills on how to address some of the challenging situations that they encounter in implementation of CC activities.

“It is envisioned that the use of the handbook will enhance performance of staff in enlisting community participation in wildlife and Protected Area management, enhanced benefits, resolving conflicts and ultimately contributing to achievement of UWA’s mission.” He said.

He added that the handbook will harmonize the approach to implementation of community conservation, engaging communities, raising awareness at community level by UWA staff as well as stakeholders working with UWA around Protected Areas and those engaged in similar programmes within dual management areas.

WWF's Finance Manager, Bruno Ssemaganda (L) hands over 800 copies of the Community Conservation Handbooks to UWA Director Field Operations- Charles Tumwesigye (Center) and Manager Conservation Awaren (R)