As the population of communities around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park grows, the pressure on resources increases. Many indigenous communities still grapple to make a living, leading to competition for limited natural resources like firewood, exacerbated by deforestation and the conversion of land for agriculture. In some cases, communities have been tempted to engage in illegal activities, such as setting traps and snares, particularly reported in Mpungu Subcounty, Kanungu District. These challenges pose significant threats to the already endangered mountain gorilla population in the region. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt multi-pronged approaches that empower communities with knowledge of wildlife laws
and sustainable practices.To advance these efforts, in October 2024, the Environmental Governance Institute, in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, organized a training session aimed at
empowering the frontline communities of Buhoma and Ruhija in Bwindi Park on the key provisions of the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019. This training underscored and highlighted key wildlife offenses and penalties, compensation procedures for wildlife damages, and the
revenue-sharing mechanism.
Group photo of some of trained Community wild life Law ambassadors in buhoma, Kanungu . The two training sessions impacted about 70 community champions comprising of 26 women
and 44 men drawn from representation of Batwa groups, cultural leaders, reformed poachers, local tourism and retired rangers in sub counties of Ruhija and Buhoma in Kabale and Kanungu districts respectively. These engagements were part of the project “Empowering communities for sustainable conservation of mountain Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable park’’, sponsored by IUCN save Our Species with anticipation to gear up long term community led stewardship in conserving mountain gorilla species and habitats in Bwindi landscape.
Mr. Muhangi Peter, the UWA Community Conservation Ranger in Bwindi, asserted that while there has been a sudden decrease in bush fire incidents in the Bwindi landscape, there has reportedly been a spike in illegal trap laying by communities, particularly in Mpungu Subcounty. This subcounty is one of the notable frontlines in Kanungu District, lying between Buhoma and Ruhija, and stretches through the forest to the bordering periphery of Rubanda District, which was carved from Kabale.
Muhangi Peter, Conservation Ranger elaborating on allowable distance from park boundaries ,for community cultivation and grazing
The training gave a spot light on common offenses as per section 29 of the law, which include but not limited to offences such as starting and maintaining a fire without lawful authority, hunts, takes, kills, injures or disturbing any wild plant, wild animal, cultivation or mines
within protected areas, destroys any cultural image lawfully and illegal entry in protected areas as per section 30 of the wildlife act 2019.
During the training Mr. Goloba Silver, senior wild life prosecutor warned that involving in such offences attracts charges, penalties and arrests of individual. While communities embraced the law during the training, mixed reaction arouse among the participants on why the authority delays to compensate them while they encounter damages by wild life. EGI and UWA officials present offered robust training to the local ambassadors on how to apply for compensation and fill compensation forms as per the law. “Not following right lawful procedures of seeking compensation, ruins the entire process” asserted the Goloba the UWA official Bwindi. He further emphasized that law provides for 3 types of forms namely, Form
1-for compensation on injury and death of person caused by wild animal, Form 2- compesation for death of the livestock killed by wild life, form 3-compensates crops and other property damaged by wildlife.
Through this engagement, the project registered a notable outcome of having about 70 wildlife law community champions trained to as assist in transferring the knowledge to other community members in collaboration with UWA. A notable consensus was also reached on
having all common offences, penalties and compensation procedures due to wild life damages summarised and put on strategic public domain. This will ultimately increase visibility and wild life law awareness among communities in Bwindi and foster community led approaches in safeguarding our endangered mountain gorilla species and habitats.
In light of the above, The Environmental Governance Institute (EGI) through this project seeks to collaborate with UWA to sustain and bolter capacities of these trained champions to serve as ambassadors for the Wildlife Act of 2019 in Bwindi ultimately fostering community attitude changes and good relation with the Authority to ensure long term conservation of the species in Bwindi and habitats there-in
This Blog story is written by Okwi John Peter
Programs Coordinator, Environment Governance Institute
This publication was produced with the financial support of IUCN Save Our Species. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Environment Governance Institute and do not necessarily reflect the views of IUCN
