Uganda Wildlife Authority has disclosed it that wildlife sector provides a range of employment opportunities for people living around protected areas.

Antelopes in Kabalega Murchison Falls National Park

Featuring at the Uganda Broadcasting Services news hour program, a community conservation warden in charge of Mt. Elgon conservation area Geoffrey Matanda explained that among the beneficiaries are tourist guides, potters, rangers, office staffs, and drivers.

Matanda reported that Uganda wildlife Authority is mandated to remit 20% of park entry fees to the people surrounding the wildlife protected area for economic development.

He added that currently Uganda Wildlife Authority is engaging the public in protecting animals, plants species for prosperous.

He however noted that they face a problem of overpopulation resulting into encroachment, land claims and over harvesting resources in protected areas such as Mt. Elgon, Queens Elizabeth, Kibaale and Karamoja.

There is also a problem of live stock for people grazing as well in protective areas and transfer of veterinary diseases. Matanda further says other problems facing world life authority are fire out breaks that destroys the forest, disperse and kill animals.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias