UWA receives more drones to fight poaching in national parks

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has seen its conservation efforts bolstered by the donation of six state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicles , commonly known as drones from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The drones were handed over to the Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime on Tuesday.

” They will empower us to protect our wildlife and natural habitats more effectively. We are committed to leveraging this technology to ensure the long-term sustainability of our precious ecosystems. We thank UNDP for their support and look forward to continued collaboration,” he said.

Nwanneakolam Vwede-Obahor, the UNDP Resident Representative for Uganda, stated that the donation highlights the robust partnership between Uganda and the UNDP, which is founded on a shared commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

She noted that  UNDP recognizes the tourism sector’s potential to drive development and enhance the quality of life for people in Uganda.

“Uganda is a country of natural beauty, our support to UWA reflects our commitment to enhancing Uganda’s capacity to protect its unique wildlife and natural resources. The UNDP will continue to support not only UWA but the tourism sector as a whole because of its contribution to the economic development of Uganda,” she said.

Sam Mwandha, the Executive Director of UWA said that the equipment represent a major advancement in UWA’s capacity to monitor and manage protected areas.

“These drones will provide UWA with real- time aerial surveillance, enhance our ability to monitor vast and remote areas, gather crucial data on wildlife movements, and respond swiftly to any threats, thereby significantly strengthening our conservation strategies,” he noted.

Mwandha noted that the technology will assist UWA in tracking animal migration patterns, assessing the health of habitats, and conducting detailed surveys of wildlife populations among others.

“The data collected will also help inform conservation strategies and actions, ensuring that Uganda’s wildlife heritage is preserved for future generations,” he said.