UK experts are in the country training Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers, equipping them with skills to help in wildlife conservation in Uganda.
This training of marine rangers in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national park started on 25th October, 2014 at Mweya Peninsular.
The rangers are being trained in boat handling, safety and rescue, community conservation and first aid skills.
The training is supported by Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) which has already constructed four marine stations and provided marine patrol boats with engines to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a couple of others in Murchison Falls NP to curb wildlife poaching.
Michael Keigwin an official UCF said over the past six years, the Foundation has completed the construction of six Marine Ranger Stations with over 60 rangers fully trained on international level.
The marine stations are Rwenshama, Mweya, Kashaka and Kahendero in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Paraa and Semanya in Murchison Falls National Park. They will all be equipped with boats, engines and other marine accessories.
So far, Ms Dee Tester, the Health and Safety coordinator at Bournemouth & Poole College, UK, has helped train UWA rangers in basic first aid skills.
Mr. Tony Tester, a British power boat instructor also already embarked on a week long marine training session for the rangers at Mweya Peninsular of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
“This is the fifth training course aimed at equipping the rangers with boat handling, safety and rescue, monitoring and research and anti poaching patrols among others,” UWA notes.
Due to his passion for wildlife conservation, Mr. Will Goldenberg from Five Films, UK, is also in Queen Elizabeth to document the Marine ranger training by UWA and Uganda Conservation Foundation.
These sessions have greatly contributed to reducing illegal activities against wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
