According to the Authority’s acting Executive director John Makombo, ivory impounded now amounts to over 10 tons. He says the stockpiles cannot be destroyed now because majority are exhibits in ongoing court cases, however saying when these are concluded then the appropriate decision will be taken.

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The tortoises that had been concealed in sacks  were displayed by URA officials at the media conference in Kampala.

The assistant commissioner enforcement at URA Agnes Nabwire said that there are laws that protect the movement of wildlife.

“If the people had proper documentation, why did they have to conceal them in sacks?”she said as she handed the tortoises back to UWA officials.

The suspects claimed that the tortoises were being transported to a local sanctuary in Mbale for breeding.

“We suspect that they were being transported to the black market either in Kampala or be exported. They are highly valuable in Asian and Chinese communities for food and the shells can be crushed into powder for medicinal purposes,” UWA public relations manager Jossy Muhangi said.

He added that there are currently no permits to export tortoises.

The tortoises are to be returned to Nakapiripirit.

According to UWA officials, during the rainy season the tortoises often roam around on flat lands like Karamoja, which makes it easy for them to be picked.

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Queen Elizabeth National Park Photo credit: Safari bookings

Kibanda county MP Sam Otada demands the Uganda wildlife Authority give accountability for the people going missing  in the districts of Kiryandongo and Nwoya. Otada and Nwoya district woman MP Lily Adong stated this while raising a matter of national importance in  parliament over killings of poachers by rangers.

The two reported to parliament that on several occasions people enter into Murchison falls national park but those people disappear and there are allegations that they are executed after being arrested by UWA.

MPs  say that whenever people disappear from the park the efforts to recover them is always frustrated by the UWA officials in the area.

Otada says that even if these people go to gazetted areas the people concerned must follow the law while handling the culprits instead of killing them.

The government chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa says that government is going to task the executive director UWA to explain the matter. She also said that the minister in charge of tourism will soon make a statement on the floor of parliament over the same matter.

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Appearing before the commission today, the former permanent secretary of the ministry between the years2006 to 2009, Dr. Sam Nahamya denies receiving this money even when the commission has records showing that the finance ministry sent that money to the tourism ministry to run the project.

The chair of the commission, Justice George Kanyaihamba mentions that Nahamya’s tenure in office indicates that there was a lot of office mismanagement and it is upon this matter that he advises the government to change its mechanism of monitoring work by appointed officials.

Ultimate Media

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Kamanzi has filed a lawful suit against the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Attorney General and the new acting executive director of the Uganda world life Authority Dr. Andrew Seguya before the high court to quash the purported appointment of Seguya as the Acting executive director and allow him back in office to resume his work.

Kamanzi claims Seguya is unlawfully occupying offices because he was appointed by the outgoing tourism trade and Industry minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafire and not the board of directors as the law requires.

Kamanzi says in December 2010 was forced to have a leave by the minister to pave way for investigation over his insubordination.

Trouble stemmed from the refusal of Minister Otafire to appoint him as the substantive executive director and instead preferred advertising for the post.

Kamanzi contends that the minister appointed Seguya for indefinite period of time without the recommendation of the board of trusties and yet it’s a requirement.
Ultimate Media

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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

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Justice Prof. George Kanyeihamba

The commission was instituted to carry on inquiry in the way the Uganda Wildlife Authority utilized the 35 million dollars secured from the World Bank and the government of Uganda for the protection and management of protective area.

The money was supposed to be used for the construction of the Wildlife Authority Headquarters’ , offices in the national parks and game reserves, procure uniforms, computers , information equipments and financing the tree planting project in the mountain Rwenzori and mountain Elgon national parks respectively.

However the commission’s chairperson Justice George Kanyahamba says although they have interviewed 24 witnesses in the last two months, many witnesses have refused to appear before the inquiry while others have deliberately withheld the information.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

The post Inquiry into mismanagement of Uganda Wildlife Authority Funds failing first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The discount of 10% will be offered on tickets once travels can prove they will go Gorilla tracking when they visit. The discount is available during the low tourism season which is from Match-May and between October- November.

The company says the offer is aimed at promoting gorilla tracking in Uganda and offering tourists a chance to witness one of Uganda’s natural treasures.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority also recently launched a campaign to promote local tourism by slashing costs gorilla tracking for both local and international visitors.

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Chimpanzee in Kibale forest

The cost has been brought down from 500 dollar per permit for foreign nationals 350 US dollars each permits for national residents now cost 250 dollars while for East African has reduced from 250000-100000 Ugandan shillings.

The fess are applicable only during the low seasons of tracking which is on Match is May and October and November.

Acting Executive Director of the Uganda World life Authority Dr. Andrew Suguya explains that the reduction are intended to promote Gorilla  tracking during more Tourism season

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

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