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Uganda Wildlife Authority

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has made over 100 reshuffles and transfers among its officers and rangers. 

The UWA top management at its 46th meeting held December 28-29, 2024, at Protea Hotel in Entebbe Municipality, resolved to transfer its staff to various stations with effect from January 1, 2024. 

The closed-door meeting saw several officers transferred from one duty station to another. 

Edison Nuwamanya, who has been the chief warden for Kibale Conservation Area, has been transferred to the Authority headquarters as the manager of human-wildlife conflict, according to a letter seen by New Vision.

Others include Paul Kiwanuka, a senior warden of engineering services transferred from Murchison Falls Conservation Area to Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area. 

Gertrude Namakula, a senior warden of community conservation who has been in the Kidepo Valley Conservation area has been transferred to headquarters in Kampala as a senior warden in charge of awareness and education. 

Murchison Falls Conservation Area comprises Murchison Falls National Park, Karuma, Bugungu, Kabwoya, East Madi and Ajai game reserves. The Queen Elizabeth Conservation area comprises Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori National Park, Kigezi and Kyambura Game Reserves. On the other hand, the Kidepo Valley Conservation Area comprises Kidepo Valley National Park and Karenga Community Wildlife Area. 

John Tibesigwa, the warden in charge of Rwenzori Mountains National Park, has been transferred to Kibale Conservation Area as a chief warden, while Isaiah Bwire, the warden in charge of Queen Elizabeth's Ishasha sector has been transferred to Mgahinga National Park. Alice Lechi Angundaru, a senior warden accounts in Murchison Falls Conservation Area, has been transferred to Kidepo Valley Conservation Area under the same position. 

Tom Egessa, a senior warden accounts in the Kidepo Valley Conservation Area, has been transferred to Murchison Falls Conservation Area, and Janet Busingye, a senior warden accounts in Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area, has been taken to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with the same title. 

James Turyasingura, the warden accounts in Murchison Falls Conservation Area, has been transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area. 

Others transferred include wardens in charge of law enforcement, wardens in charge of tourism, assistant wardens, a bigger number of accounts clerks, drivers and intelligence officers. 

The letter which was signed by Sam Mwandha, the UWA executive director and Chemonges Sabilla, the deputy director in charge of legal and corporate affairs, instructed chief wardens to facilitate the transferred staff to their respective new stations. 

Whereas several staff in charge of finance and accounts have been reshuffled, it remains unclear as to whether this was due to the previous scandals pertaining to mismanagement of UWA funds or it was just a routine transfer.