Uganda, Rwanda, DRC join to protect Virunga Forest Park

By Wilfred Sanya

Uganda together with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have joined efforts to strengthen security around Virunga Forest Park.

The three countries are holding a two-day Greater Virunga Trans boundary Collaboration (GVTC) meeting in Kampala, to come up with joint measures to strengthen the security around the protected area across borders.

While opening the meeting at Mosa Courts, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) boss, Andrew Seguya said the issue of security is paramount to safe guard the Wildlife in the forest park.\

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A cross section of delegates from Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda attending a collaboration meeting on security of Greater Virunga Trans boundary in Kampala. Photo/Wilfred Sanya

“The issue of insecurity in DRC led to death of many elephants but on the Ugandan side poaching has greatly reduced. We are working with communities around the park and providing other alternative livelihoods to fight poaching,” he noted.

He said the strategy has yielded a lot of benefits and boosted tourism.

Seguya noted that the end of war in DRC has reduced the problem of poaching.

Investigations by UWA show that a total of 800 ivory tusks that were intercepted at Entebbe Airport were not from DRC, but were from Tanzania.

Seguya said investigations also indicate that the Rhino horns were also coming from South African.

The Executive Secretary, GVTC, Wilson Kajwengye said there is need to strengthen on the current governing laws to punish poachers when arrested.

“As the region we should strengthen the legislation to curb those who kill the animals and cutting down the forest park,” he said.

The meeting is also discussing sharing of revenue especially on Gorilla families.