Uganda: UPDF Counseled for Securing Wildlife Conservation Areas in Japanese Uganda

The State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka has recommended the Third Division of UPDF for flashing out armed pastoralists from Pian-Upe Recreation Reserve in Nakapiripirit District, Karamoja Sub-region.

The Minister made the remarks throughout his go to to Mount Elgon Conservation Space (MECA) and Kidepo Nationwide Valley Recreation Park in Better Japanese Uganda on July, 21 2023.

“I commend the management of UPDF 3 Division and troops for the operational help prolonged to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to revive sanity and calm within the recreation reserve. My enchantment is that such help mustn’t cease as we nonetheless rely on the UPDF,” Bahinduka stated.

Throughout his go to, he met and interacted with UPDF commanders, UWA officers and key stakeholders.

In early July, armed pastoralists are stated to have sneaked into the Pian-Upe Recreation Reserve to graze cattle however ended up committing legal acts which threatened each people and wildlife.

“The legal parts had dominated an space (7km) East of reserve, used it as their hideouts and springboards to trigger criminality in Nakapiripirit and neighbouring Districts. By 21 Jul 2023, they had been flashed out with no resistance,” stated Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, the Deputy Division Commander.

Busizoori reiterated that such the same operation alongside cordon and search will proceed to be carried out in an effort to keep relative calm and peace for sectors to thrive within the subregion.

In Might 2023, the same operation towards legal parts and poachers was carried out in Karua basic space beneath Kidepo Nationwide Recreation Park, Karenga district and led to the forceful restoration of 1 firearm.

Samuel Amanya, the Chief Warden for MECA appealed to the respective districts and line ministry to open up and enhance highway networks and different key infrastructures throughout conservation areas to boost mobility and social service supply.

Pian-Upe Recreation Reserve covers roughly an space of about 2.043 sq km of land dimension in 9 districts and stretches from Kadam Hill within the East to Lake Opeta to the West.