UWA’s James Musinguzi Calls for Stronger Community Involvement in Wildlife Conservation

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has called for stronger community participation and improved public awareness as key tools in protecting Uganda’s wildlife.

Speaking during a morning show at a local television, UWA Executive Director James Musinguzi said conservation work cannot succeed if local communities are left out, especially those living near protected areas.

He stressed that people who live close to wildlife must be part of the solution, since they experience the daily challenges of human–wildlife conflict such as animals crossing into farms and damaging crops.

“We believe conservation cannot succeed without involving communities,” Musinguzi said. “Since they live adjacent to protected areas, they must be included so that we can work in partnership to manage problem animals.”

Musinguzi also pointed out that enforcement alone is not enough. While UWA continues to protect national parks and reserves, he said awareness and education are just as important in changing how people relate to wildlife.

“We must use both the carrot-and-stick approach as we enforce the protection and conservation of wildlife,” he said. “A key gap is lack of awareness, because people can only protect what they know and appreciate.”

He explained that UWA is now working to bring conservation education closer to communities, with the aim of helping people better understand the value of wildlife and why it must be protected.

According to him, UWA’s role goes beyond park boundaries.

“We exist to manage and protect wildlife, including plants and animals, both inside and outside protected areas,” he said.

The discussion comes as Uganda continues to face challenges linked to human–wildlife conflict, especially in areas bordering national parks and reserves where incidents of crop destruction and animal movement into villages are common.

Musinguzi said building trust and cooperation with communities remains central to addressing these issues in a practical and sustainable way.

Uganda’s wildlife remains a major national asset, supporting tourism and livelihoods across the country. UWA hopes that stronger awareness and closer community partnerships will help secure that resource for the long term.