The new Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Dr. James Musinguzi, has met and held discussions with the Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Sharifa Buzeki, to renew and strengthen their collaboration on conservation and sustainability initiatives in Kampala.
The two leaders revisited key areas of partnership under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed nine years ago, in October 2016.
In his speech, Dr. Musinguzi commended KCCA for a fruitful partnership that has significantly promoted wildlife visibility and conservation awareness in the city. He reaffirmed UWA’s commitment to strengthening this collaboration under the current MoU.
Dr. Musinguzi highlighted several achievements under the MoU, including the reconstruction and full operationalization of the Wildlife Information Centre at Sheraton Kampala Hotel; facilitation of staff retreats, leisure trips, and exposure visits for KCCA staff to various national parks; and joint wildlife conservation education programs targeting Kampala schools.
These programs have also supported student trips to protected areas and facilitated interaction with wildlife professionals.
Other accomplishments include the erection of ten symbolic animal sculptures along Kira Road to beautify the city and raise awareness about Uganda’s biodiversity. Additionally, two major wildlife monuments, the Impala on Kimathi Avenue and the Gorilla on Speke Road, have reinforced Kampala’s image as a nature-conscious capital.
Dr. Musinguzi emphasized the need to enhance coordinated management of urban wildlife species such as monkeys and birds to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and promote peaceful coexistence.
He also noted on the scaling up conservation education programs in Kampala schools by leveraging UWA’s outreach officers and educational tools.
The UWA ED announced plans to expand the wildlife sculpture initiative by adding five more installations, bringing the total to fifteen. New streets will also be identified to visually promote conservation themes.
Dr. Musinguzi also proposed the renewal of the current MoU to incorporate emerging priorities, including the designation of Kira Road as “Wildlife Street” in recognition of its role in urban beautification and wildlife awareness.
Technically called for the establishment of a joint UWA-KCCA technical working group to plan, coordinate, and monitor agreed-upon activities.
KCCA Response
The KCCA executive director, Mrs Buzeki in the accompany of the KCCA Deputy Executive Director and several technical officers, expressed her agency’s commitment to building a vibrant, attractive, and sustainable city that offers an exceptional experience for residents, businesses, and visitors.
“KCCA is committed to strengthening our partnership with UWA, particularly in the areas of wildlife conservation, tourism promotion, and environmental education within the city,” she said.
“We are dedicated to urban conservation by ensuring that our cherished bird species are protected, even amidst increasing construction and infrastructure development. We must consistently work together to create sustainable habitats for these beautiful species.”
She added that KCCA is currently enforcing a no-littering policy and maintaining green spaces by prohibiting inappropriate dumping and trespassing. The authority is also enhancing these green areas for greater ecological value.
“With proper waste management practices both at the source and at our final management site in Buyaala we believe we can protect our lakes, rivers, flora, and fauna for future generations,” she stated.
Stephen Masaba, Senior Manager for Tourism and Business Development at UWA, noted that the two agencies have achieved 90% of the objectives set under the original MoU.
He said the new MoU will focus on managing areas where wildlife exists within the city, such as wetlands and forested zones, with an emphasis on protecting wildlife and promoting related tourism products.
“We are also exploring ways to make it easier for schools to visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), and we’re considering additional streets to be included in the partnership,” Masaba added.
