BMCA Rangers tipped for Conservation during Lockdown

By Alex Gahima

Rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA) have been tipped for remaining committed to their primary role of protecting Uganda’s Wildlife during the COVID- 19 pandemic and lockdown.

The COVID- 19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to World economies including Uganda. The Country’s tourism sector experienced adverse effects that brought the industry to an abrupt halt.

Tourism as a sector is one of Uganda’s the major source of employment, Government revenue and foreign exchange earnings employing over 700,000 men, women and youth.

A 2020 report, published by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities titled, Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism Business in Uganda, states that Uganda’s tourism industry recorded a loss of over 1 billion U.S. dollars at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hotels and tour operators across the country had to endure losses following cancellations from tourists.

Wildlife Rangers attached Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP) in Kisoro district did not badge, despite the dwindling presence of business to the country.

The same could not be said for some of the communities adjacent to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that illegally entered the park.

Their actions resulted in the death of Uganda’s silverback Mountain Gorilla, Rafiki in a hunting escapade gone wrong.

Rafiki, a member of the Silverback family from Nkuringo Group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was the head of a group of 17 habituated Mountain Gorillas.

The culprit of the heinous crime, Felix Byamukama, a resident of Murole Village, Nteko Parish, Nyabwishenya Sub County was arrested, convicted and sentenced to eleven years in Prison.

Byamukama’s last words before being committed to Prison said, all he wanted at the time of entering the National Park was food for his family and not to kill Rafiki the Gorilla.

BMCT Supports Rangers and Communities

Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT), a Conservation and Research Organization aimed at promoting the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem of MGNP and BINP started a project to support the Rangers and Communities to handle to COVID-19 effects.

The one-year project called Biodiversity of Protected Area Management was used to empower 59 Rangers who were trained in Gorilla monitoring and tracking as well as Data collection and analysis.

The rangers were also given relief items that include Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Surveillance and communication gadgets that include 2 SMART Mobile phones (Black view BV8000 Pro 4G), 92 pairs of gum boots (Bata -Kenya), 1500 kgs of Maize Meal, 1000 kgs of Beans, 250 kgs of Rice, 200 kgs of Wheat (Azam), 50 kgs of baking powder/yeast, 60 kgs of Salt/ordinary and 100 kgs of Sugar/ordinary among others.

Programs Manager with BMCT Phares Kosia Kakuru said five stealth cameras and five GPS trackers have also been procured for the rangers.

Kakuru said it is important that community engagements with Uganda Wildlife Authority are boasted to ensure that conservation efforts are sustainable.

BMCT Trust Administrator Wilberforce Tumwesigye said communities that have benefitted from various projects geared towards conservation need to consider value addition to their projects to attract a bigger market and ensure longevity and sustainability.

Tumwesigye said using a tested model called Conservation, Development and Business, communities adjacent to the protected areas can reap big in adding value to apiary and horticulture by working together as groups.

Aurelia Kyalimpa, the Community Conservation Warden with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park commended BMCT for their timely support.

Kyalimpa explained that during the Lockdown, tourism shut down, but the rangers had to remain in the national parks where they were almost forgotten.

According to Kyalimpa, Government has done tremendously well by allowing other implementing partners to support the efforts of conservation.

Human Gorilla Conflict Resolution Teams

HUGO members alongside reformed poachers were also recognized for their efforts towards keeping wildlife from entering communities.

The group of 45 individuals have been trained to use vuvuzelas to scare off elephants and mountain gorillas whenever they come into the communities.

The members who do the work voluntarily were awarded 45 sheep by BMCT to support their families.

Several members requested Government to support them with easy access to financial support to educate their children.

Principal Secretary to the Chief Administrative Officer George Kwizera said households in the area need to adopt commercial farming over Subsistence farming.

Kwizera said households can use the Parish Development Model to access funds to help them evolve into commercial farming and grow crops that can fetch income instead of focusing on trees that have longtime returns.

Kisoro District LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana said too much focus has been put on the fauna and yet flora is extremely vital because of the effects of Climate Change.

He urged every household to plant fruit trees around their homes and ensure that tree cutting is avoided because the trees play a critical role in carbon sequestration.