Mutagamba inaugurates UWA board of trustees

The long wait for the board of trustees for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is over. The board, which is supposed to serve for three years, was inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism and antiquities, Maria Mutagamba on Wednesday evening.  

The board comprises of 10 members namely Benjamin Otto, Dr. Kasoma Pantaleon Mukasa Banda, Eng, Batuma Mbabazi, Dr. Nalwanga Dianah Wabwire, Wamukote Leonard, Kagumaho Kakuyo and Edward Balidawa. Others are Dr. Akankwasah Barirega, Zigiti Zeridah and Dr. Andrew Seguya who is the executive director of UWA.

The 10-member board of trustee was inaugurated Wednesday evening. Photo by Richard Sanya

Otto, who was the Chairperson of the previous board, has retained his position at the top conservation body mandated to manage wildlife in the country. Otto is a former Permanent Secretary who served from 1980 to 1998.

Mutagamba, who was the chief guest at the ceremony organised at Serena Hotel, Kampala, reminded them that they have to manage wildlife in the country and that on top of the agenda is the conflict between human beings and wild animals. She also pointed out that only 30% of the wildlife is found in protected areas and that the rest is found outside the gazetted areas.

Minister Maria Mutagamba (middle) inaugurated the board.

"It means that you have to work with communities, local government, private sector and the media as partners to promote sustainable use of wildlife," she told the board at the ceremony which also attracted Government officials in the conservation fraternity, private sector and NGOs.

In his short speech, Otto said they had lost time since the previous three-year term for the board expired last year in March. "We shall waste no time to hit the ground," he said.

Otto and his colleagues also vowed to fulfill a performance charter is the areas outlined by Mutagamba. Ambassador Patrick Mugoya, the PS in the Ministry of Tourism attended.

The meeting ended with patrons washing their throats with different wines and soft drinks at a cocktail party organised at Serena Hotel, Kampala.