His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda, Muwenda Mutebi II has agreed to work with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to promote conservation of wildlife in Buganda.
Although there are no national parks or wildlife reserves in Buganda, the Buganda culture derives many of its associations from wildlife, and all the 52 clans of Buganda derive their names from animals, such as Enjovu (elephant), Engo (leopard), Emamba (lungfish), Enkima (monkey), Ente (cow) Endiga (sheep) etc. Even some names of places in Buganda are derived from animals such as Wandegeya (weaverbird) and Kampala (impalas).
At a meeting His Majesty the Kabaka held with the UWA Acting Executive Director, Mr. Moses Mapesa and Public Relations Manager, Lillian Nsubuga in the presence of his Advisor, Mr. Peter Mpanga at his Banda palace on Thursday, 17th March 2005, it was observed that there are substantial numbers of wildlife populations in Nakasongola, Kiboga, Sembabule, Wakiso and Luwero districts which could be more adequately utilised either for tourism or recreation.
Some of such animals include elephants, buffaloes, sitatungas, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, and many primate species. Sango Bay in Rakai District was specially identified as an ideal area that could be turned into a wildlife reserve through local government or Buganda government initiatives. Apart from having large wildlife numbers and a very good road network, the area is largely unpopulated and has a big forest reserve.
On many occasions, UWA has been called upon to manage the animals in Sango Bay even though the organisation does not have a staff presence in the area. Most of the land there either belongs to the Buganda Kingdom or private landlords.
His Majesty the Kabaka offered to help promote the idea of establishing wildlife ranches by Baganda landowners especially in areas where livestock can coexist with wildlife. Interested landlords would also establish picnic sites and campsites on their lands, which local and international tourists would use at a fee.
UWA would also work with landlords to restock wildlife numbers in areas where they may be depleted as long as those landlords want to invest in wildlife-related ventures, which is already provided for under the Uganda Wildlife Act 2000 Cap 200 in respect to the wildlife use rights.
Establishing wildlife conservation areas within Buganda would bring wildlife closer to the majority of Kampala residents who love to see and experience wildlife but don’t have the time to drive to the national parks most of which lie far from the city, almost 300kms away.
His Majesty the Kabaka requested to be furnished with more information regarding wildlife numbers in the Sango Bay area and promised to promote wildlife conservation among his subjects.
His Majesty the Kabaka expressed interest in starting an ostrich farm on a small scale, and requested for more information on how this can be done.
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