Seguya's era at UWA ends today

PIC: Seguya will hand over UWA's top office today. (File photo)

UWA LEADERSHIP

KAMPALA - For the first time since Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) was created, an out-going executive director is going to handover on Monday without being sacked or resigning.

Tourism minister Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, together with the trustees of UWA will preside over a ceremony that will see the Dr Andrew Seguya hand over to his successor, Sam Mwandha.

"We will have a handover on March 26," said Kamuntu, adding that UWA has to continue executing serious business - managing wildlife in Uganda's game parks and outside the protected areas.

Mwandha, who is a long-time career conservationist, becomes the eighth executive directors since the authority was created in 1996. UWA was created to oversee wildlife management in the country after the merger of the Game Department and Uganda National Parks.

He was the best candidate in the final interview conducted by the Public Service Commission.

 Justus Tusubira (left), the Lake Mburo area conservation manager welcoming Sam Mwandha  to Lake Mburo recently. (Credit: Gerald Tenywa)

Seguya, who has been at the helm of the top conservation body in the country, was third and trailed Achilles Byaruhanga, the executive director of Nature Uganda, who was second.

Kamuntu appointed Mwandha as the new executive director of UWA last month, but he asked for more time to clear and handover office at the Africa Wildlife Foundation, where he has been serving as the chief of party.

Six years like see-saw

In 2010, Kahinda Otafire, the then Minister of Trade and Tourism, fired Moses Mapesa and top management, including Mwandha.

Two years later, Otafire appointed Seguya as the substantive executive director of UWA. He served the first term of three years and the board extended his contract for another three years.

After six years, the board of trustees had approved Seguya's contract to be extended by another three years, but Kamuntu disagreed with the board and ordered for fresh interviews.