The government of Uganda is negotiating World Bank funding to a tune of $148.2 over six-year period towards investment in forest protected areas for Climate Smart Environment. As part of fundraising the required resources, World Bank approached some partners to make funding available for habitat and ecosystem protection. As a result, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) agreed to separately extend an additional grant to Uganda Wildlife Authority and National Forestry Authority to be shared equally to a tune of $2.3 million dollars for a period of two years to finance activities that support protection of the environment under their mandates.
The resources for Uganda Wildlife Authority are earmarked to specifically go to Protected Area Biodiversity support. These funds will therefore support law enforcement like deployment of the ranger force to do more patrols, fire management initiatives, community livelihood projects and Human Wildlife Conflict in the Albertine rift of Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth and Toro- Semuliki. The funds will also be used to develop the eco-tourism initiatives in the Kingdom of Bunyoro and Toro in the region.
The Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Authority is optimistic that the funds will offer the much-needed money to ensure protected areas are kept safe following the heavy drop in revenue since the outbreak of COVID- 19 in March. “The funds will ensure that we do even more close monitoring and patrols to keep our parks safe and deter any illegal activities like poaching,” he said.
Under the $148.2 million funding, the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities will be supported to carry out its administrative and supervisory roles together with the Ministry of Water and Environment as they oversee implementation of the different projects earmarked for support. The broader aspects envisaged in this phase of funding will include infrastructural development of the Protected Areas, procurement of equipment to support construction and maintenance of roads, increase the coverage of the electric fences and other human wildlife conflict interventions like trenches among many others. The communities will also be supported to improve their livelihood, improve their tourism facilities among many others.
