Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has unveiled an ambitious five-year Strategic Plan (2026–2030) setting the stage for a more technology-driven, customer-focused and community-centred approach to wildlife conservation and tourism development.
The plan, accompanied by the authority’s new Service Delivery Standards and a Client Charter, was launched on Tuesday during a ceremony officiated by the Deputy Head of Public Service, Jane Kyarisiima Mwesiga, who hailed the initiative as a significant milestone in strengthening public service delivery and creating lasting public value for present and future generations.
The new Strategic Plan charts UWA’s direction over the next five years and seeks to strengthen collaboration with communities, local governments, conservation partners and the private sector while advancing Uganda’s commitments under national development priorities and international biodiversity conservation frameworks.
Technology to Lead Anti-Poaching Efforts
Speaking at the launch, UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi said the Authority will increasingly deploy modern technology to enhance wildlife protection and conservation management.
“The new strategic plan will leverage technology, including drones, forensic science, GIS and digital systems, to strengthen anti-poaching efforts, improve wildlife protection and enhance conservation management,” Dr. Musinguzi said.
He added that the Authority will also diversify Uganda’s tourism offerings beyond traditional wildlife safaris by introducing new niche tourism products capable of attracting more visitors and increasing tourism revenues.
“Tourism products like water tourism with boats, butterfly tourism, and other rare products to attract more tourists will be developed,” Dr Musinguzi said.
The Executive Director noted that stronger collaboration with neighbouring communities will remain central to conservation efforts, ensuring that people living around protected areas benefit from wildlife conservation while supporting efforts to protect Uganda’s natural heritage.
Highlighting achievements under the outgoing Strategic Plan, Assistant Commissioner for Conservation Planning, Richard Kapere, said UWA had registered remarkable progress in habitat restoration, law enforcement and ecosystem protection.
Among the key achievements, the Authority conducted more than 114,000 anti-poaching patrols, leading to the recovery of 156,823 poaching implements and the arrest of 11,597 suspects involved in wildlife crimes.
Kapere said these operations significantly strengthened wildlife protection while reinforcing Uganda’s commitment to combating poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
He added that UWA also cleared 13,625 hectares of invasive plant species, restored 3,825 hectares of degraded habitats, recovered 374 hectares of encroached land within the Mount Elgon Conservation Area, and maintained 1,153 kilometres of fire lines to reduce wildfire risks across protected areas.
He described the achievements as evidence of the Authority’s continued commitment to restoring ecosystems while safeguarding Uganda’s biodiversity for future generations.
Improving Service Delivery
Alongside the Strategic Plan, UWA also launched new Service Delivery Standards and a Client Charter aimed at improving customer experience, accountability and institutional performance.
Assistant Commissioner for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Justus Mpirirwe, announced that under the new standards, every visitor arriving at a UWA park gate should be attended to within 10 minutes.
The service standards also establish clear timelines and procedures for responding to client needs while promoting consistency across all UWA operations.
UWA Commissioner for Human Resource Management, Afande Susan Muhumuza Nyatia, said the Client Charter reinforces UWA’s commitment to transparency, professionalism and responsiveness.
She emphasised the importance of effective communication and client feedback in improving service delivery, noting that the Authority’s Internal Audit function will play a critical role in monitoring compliance with the new standards.
Nyatia also assured the public that UWA remains committed to protecting client confidentiality and encouraged whistleblowers to report misconduct without fear of victimisation.
“The Service Delivery Standards provide clear procedures for handling client complaints, ensuring compliance with service commitments and promoting accountability across the institution,” she said.
Call for Stronger Partnerships
Representing the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Undersecretary Geoffrey Sseremba congratulated the UWA Board of Trustees and management on developing the new strategic framework, describing it as a major milestone for conservation and public service delivery.
While UWA Board Chairperson, represented by Dr. Stella Acaye Atim, urged staff to embrace the newly launched institutional documents as practical tools for improving performance.
She identified strengthening partnerships, promoting professionalism, and enhancing institutional efficiency as some of the strategic priorities that will define implementation of the new plan.
Chief Guest Jane Kyarisiima Mwesiga challenged UWA to work closely with local governments in implementing the strategy, saying stronger collaboration would increase public value and improve conservation outcomes.
She also underscored the importance of the Client Charter and Service Delivery Standards in ensuring that citizens receive quality public services.
The launch of the 2026-30 UWA Strategic Plan comes at a time when Uganda is positioning tourism as one of the country’s leading drivers of economic transformation under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and Vision 2040.
The tourism sector remains among Uganda’s top foreign exchange earners, with government increasingly investing in conservation, infrastructure, destination marketing and product diversification to attract more international visitors.
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