1.0 INTRODUCTION:
Wildlife Conservation Department is one of the three Departments that constitute the Directorate of Tourism, Wildlife and Museums and Monuments Others being Tourism Development and Museums and Monuments Departments.

 2.0 MANDATE

(a) The Wildlife Conservation sector draws its mandate from the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995:- National objectives and directive principles of State policy XXIII and XXVII; Articles 39 and 189(1); and Uganda Wildlife Act (Cap 200) of the laws of Uganda

(b) The mandate of the Department is derived from the Recommendations of the Restructuring Report of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, 1995 and MTTI functional analysis report 2006, section 3.8.2. The Department is mandated with Policy formulation, National planning, Inspection and Coordination of the Wildlife sector

3.1 Uganda Wildlife Authority
This is a statutory body established by the Uganda Wildlife Act Cap200 of 2000. Its mandated with conservation and sustainably managing the wildlife and the protected areas of Uganda in partnership with neighboring communities and other stakeholders for the benefit of the people of Uganda and the global community.

3.2 Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC)

This was created by a Trust Deed in accordance with the laws of Uganda. It is autonomous and supervised by a Board of Trustees. Its mandated with provision of Wildlife Conservation Education and also serves as the CITES Animals Rescue Centre for Uganda.

3.3 Bwindi and Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT)

This was established in March 1995, under the Uganda Trusts Act, with a capital endowment of US $ 4.3 million from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), administered by the World Bank. Its mandated with ensuring that the biodiversity and ecosystem of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) are conserved in harmony with development needs of the surrounding communities. The Trust Management Board has the legal and fiduciary (Trustee) responsibility to ensure that the proceeds of the trust are used to meet the objectives articulated in the Trust Deed

3.4 Uganda Wildlife training Institute (UWTI)
This was established by the Uganda Wildlife Training Institute Statute, 1996 under the former Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. UWTI was transferred to the Ministry of Education and Sports in August 1998 subsequently the UWTI Statute was repealed by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 under the Ministry of Education and Sports. Recently, the Presidential Investors Round Table (PIRT) recommended the transfer of UWTI back to MTTI where it belongs. This recommendation was followed by a directive from the office of the Prime Minister-which was implemented in December 2008.

3.5 Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT)
This was established as a combined national and international initiative and a globally recognized collaborative conservation effort, geared towards developing and implementing a long-term strategy for conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat

3.6 The Rhino Sanctuary
This was established as a partnership between individual Conservationists, with membership of Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry and Uganda Wildlife Authority. The Sanctuary is based on six Rhinos in three Pairs, all of which are property of the Republic of Uganda.

4.0 FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT

 (a) Initiation, Formulation, Monitoring and Evaluation of implementation of policies, national plans, legislation, guidelines, and strategies on Conservation and development of Wildlife resources, and provide appropriate and timely advice to Government.

 (b) To collect, compile, analyse, corroborate and disseminate strategic data and information on Conservation and development of Wildlife resources, to guide national decision making on the sector at all levels.

(c) To initiate and coordinate development of service standards, and enforcement of these for quality assurance on Conservation and development of Wildlife resources.
(d) To identify areas of intervention, coordinate and oversee mainstreaming of issues of Conservation and development of Wildlife resources into Local Governments’ Plans, Programs and Activities in support of poverty reduction and national development goals.

(e) To identify areas of intervention, coordinate and oversee mainstreaming of issues of Conservation and Development of Wildlife resources into Plans, Programs and Activities of other sectors of Government.

(f) Identify, coordinate, promote and support private sector led economic activity programs on Conservation and development of Wildlife resources; with linkages that directly contribute to poverty eradication and overall national development.

(g) To identify factors critical to the sector performance, initiate and coordinate strategic interventions to sustain the current performance and the associated positive social economic and environmental impacts.

(h) To coordinate and prepare technical sector draft position papers for development of sector national strategies and/or programs on species, ecosystems and habitats of conservation concern.

(i) Coordinate and ensure formulation and enforcement of regulations on international Conventions, Treaties and Agreements under the Wildlife Conservation sector.

(j) To Inspect and oversee operations of the statutory and affiliated bodies (Trust Organizations) under the Conservation and development of wildlife resources Sector.

5.0 INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS

The Department also serves as
(a) The Uganda’s management authority for the Convention on International Trade in endangered species of fauna and flora (CITES)
(b) National focal point for the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
(c) Uganda’s focal point for the Lusaka Agreement on the Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed against Illegal trade in fauna.
(d) National focal point for African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
(e) Uganda’s focal point for the International Gorilla Agreement yet to be acceded

6.0 ACHIEVEMENTS AS OF 2009

(a) Review of the National Wildlife Trade Policies in support of CITES with the view of developing a multi-sectoral approach to wildlife trade.

(b) Hosted the 9th Governing Council of the Lusaka Agreement on the Cooperative Enforcement Operation Directed against Illegal trade in fauna.

(c) On-site inspection visits for Issues on safety and Security for wildlife conservation and associated tourism in the districts of Western and Central northern Uganda in order to inform development of Terms of Reference for National safety and security Plan for wildlife conservation and associated tourism

(d) Took initial steps in involving stakeholders in the development of the 10 year National Wildlife Conservation and Development Plan for Uganda

(e) Regional collaboration With DR Congo and Rwanda on Central Albertine Rift Transboundary Conservation Plan and with Kenya on Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme (MERECEP)

(f) Participated in implementation of the mechanisms to address the plight of the Basongora pastoralists by relocating them out of Queen Elizabeth National Park to another Government land.

(g) Initiated programmes to protect wildlife through building the capacity of the districts, local authorities and communities and mainstreaming wildlife management into the district development plans

(h) Enforcement of Convention on International Trade in endangered species of fauna and flora (CITES)

(i) Participated in the development of the strategic plan for implementation of the Gorilla Agreement and now in final stages of accession to the Gorilla Agreement

(j) Routine inspection of Wildlife Protected Areas and wildlife private sector enterprises
(k) Participation in the development of the National Oil Policy for Uganda

7.0 CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS AS OF 2009

(a) Over 50% of wildlife Resources exist outside protected areas. This is complicated by the lack of incentives to offset costs incurred by farmers to promote tolerance towards wildlife

(b) Existing policies on wildlife conservation in Uganda are not coherent with other broad range of policies that my impact on wildlife management

(c) Human and physical factors imposing significant pressure on Uganda’s wildlife protected area system.

(d) Resettlement of people formerly resident in PAs may be prohibitively be expensive, and beyond the financial resources of the regulating agency (ies). Government therefore needs to create a fund to fund resettlement

(e) Inadequate capacity for Monitoring and ensuring the effective implementation of the environmental policy strategies articulated in the National Oil and Gas Policy.

(f) Inadequate data on wildlife conservation that is crucial in informing policies on the management of wildlife species, habitats and ecosystem

8.0 WAY FORWARD STRATEGIES AS OF 2009

(a) Development and review of plans, policies, laws and regulations for enabling the conservation of Uganda’s wildlife resources
(b) Development and improvement of infrastructure to support wildlife conservation programs
(c) Generation and dissemination of information on wildlife conservation to inform policy and public awareness
(d) Equipping the department and its affiliated institutions with tools and skills to deliver effectively on their mandates
(e) Minimizing negative impacts on wildlife resources as a result of infrastructural and industrial developments in and outside protected areas
(f) Collaboration with other institutions to support initiatives aimed at minimising human wildlife conflicts
(g) Enhancement of effective participation of the Department and its affiliated institutions in international wildlife conservation decision making
(h) Support and promotion of community, associations, public and private sector investments in sustainable wildlife utilisation

USEFUL PUBLICATIONS

WILDLIFE POLICY 1999

CROSS CUTTING LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN UGANDA

Performance Charter For UWA board of Trustees

Uganda Wildlife Act CAP