The Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquties Hon Tom Butime has warned district leaders against misuse of funds disbursed by Uganda Wildlife Authority realised from Revenue sharing arrangements.
The Minister remarks were contained in a speech read for him by the Uganda Wildlife Authority Board of Trustee Chairperson Dr James Kalema while handing over Cheques to the districts of Kisoro, Rubanda and Kanungu that share the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Parks for the financial years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
The Minister tasked the Chief Administrative Officers to ensure that the money is put to its proper use since it’s conditional grants and must show value for money and beneficiaries must know about the availability of the funds, and warned them against using the funds for administration expenses.
The Minister also hinted that plans are almost complete to elevate the Echua Forest Reserve into the National Conservation Area and when it is done it will increase on the amount of money received as park entry fees.
On the issue of Mbwa Tract, the Minister said that they are waiting for the enabling legislation that will allow Uganda Wildlife Authority to return the over 700 Acres of land that was erroneously gazated as part of Bwindi Impenetrable Conservation Area back to the local residents.
While speaking at the same event, the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority Dr James Musinguzi asked all stakeholders involved in the conservation of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park to renew their resolve and strengthen commitment and determination to uphold collective responsibility to ensure that resources derived from the conservation address the needs and aspirations of the communities.
Dr Musinguzi said this yesterday while speaking at the Uganda Wildlife Authority revenue sharing disbursement ceremony for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National part that took placebat the the Visitors Information Center in Buhoma Town Council in Kanungu district.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director pointed out that the disbursement of revenue sharing funds is a total commitment to sustainable tourism development by protecting the world’s renowned natural heritage as they work in partnership to safeguard the most iconic and biological diverse ecosystem.
Dr Musinguzi pointed out that Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Areas offer more than just revenue collections sharing as the benefits extend beyond direct financial contributions.
He called for a conservation strategy that maintains community – centered reproach where the beneficiaries are not only co-owners but co-managers of the protected areas.
He said that the Revenue Sharing ceremony gives an opportunity to share the fruits of collective Conservation efforts especially in terms of Revenue generated and demonstrate how the gains are being equitably shared with the communities that support and surround the protected area.
A total of 2 billion was disbursed to the 3 districts of Kisoro, Rubanda and Kanungu and the function was attended by political and technical staff and other stakeholders from the districts, with Kisoro taking Ugx 111,089,938 accruing from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Ugx 386,432,622 from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while Rubanda District Council took Ugx 525,030,566 and Kanungu took Ugx 1,175,006,492.
However the leaders from the Districts bordering the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park have demanded from Uganda Wildlife Authority to avail the number if the visitors entering the two Conservatiob Protected Areas in order to enable them work together as stakeholders.
The call was made by Kanungu District Council Speaker Frank Byaruhanga who represented the Chairperson Eng Sam Arinaitwe Kajojo at the Uganda Revenue Authority Revenue Sharing Ceremony that took place at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Visitors Information Center in Buhoma Town Council.
Byaruhanga pointed out that the disclosure of the number of visitors to Bwindi Mgahinga Conservative Area will enable the beneficiary districts as stakeholders to know the actual figures of the total revenue expected to be given to the districts which gives them an opportunity for revenue projection position for purposes of budgetary and planning.
He pointed out that whereas the National Park entry fees and Gorilla Levy has remained static for the last 15 years, the population has grown by 4 folds and as a result there is pressure which result into continued animal and human conflicts.
Byaruhanga also appealed to Uganda Wildlife Authority to revisit the compensation process so that affected communities can get it in the shortest time possible since many of the suffer injuries which necessitate medical attention.
The Minister tasked the Chief Administrative Officers to ensure that the money is put to its proper use since it’s conditional grants and must show value for money and beneficiaries must know about the availability of the funds.
While speaking at the same functions, the Chairpersons of Rubanda Stephen Kasyaba asked the government to work on the Tourism roads in the region so that the inflow of visitors can increase which will result in more benefits for both the government and the communities.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner Kanungu Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju asked the Uganda Wildlife Authority Administration to ease the compensation of the victims who property are destroyed by Wildlife animals so that the residents can value its conservation.
