The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has been bolstered in its conservation efforts by the acquisition of six state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Honourable Tom Butime, officially received the drones on behalf of the authority.
“The drones from UNDP are important in our conservation efforts. 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.
Ms. 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 emphasized that the 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 newly acquired drones 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.
The drones will be deployed across various national parks and wildlife reserves, offering a bird’s-eye view of Uganda’s diverse ecosystems.
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.
As UWA incorporates these drones into its operations, the authority anticipates a significant positive impact on wildlife conservation.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy to utilize innovative solutions to tackle conservation challenges and ensure the effective preservation of Uganda’s wildlife resources.
