UWA Steps Up Community Sensitization in Karamoja As Poaching Increases

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and several districts in Karamoja have started massive sensitization of the community against illegal poaching of wildlife. This follows the killing of a Crested Crane last month. 

Last month, herdsmen killed the Crested Crane in Moruita Sub County in Nakapiripirit district.

The Crane was believed to be from Matheniko- Bokora Corridor that stretches from Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Amudat and parts of Teso. 

Poaching has been on the increase in recent months and there are fears that the community will continue killing wildlife for meat if the law enforcement is seen to be weak.

Currently, UWA and Nakapiripirit district leadership are educating the people on the value of wildlife and legal consequences if caught on the wrong side of the law.  

According to Gilbrado Edyau Ecodu, a Senior Warden in charge Matheniko - Bokora Wildlife Reserve they have designed short communication messages in the local language which have been placed at various public places to discourage poaching. He said they have also held meetings with the local leaders and encouraged them to include wildlife protection messages in their engagements with the local community to promote wildlife-human coexistence.

“We have since engaged the local leaders through the district chairperson to do community sensitization. We came to a consensus that the community is largely ignorant about the benefits of wildlife, and so we agreed to step up sensitization. We have messages in the local language and the leaders speak about wildlife protection in different engagements,” said Ecodu. 

The Resident District Commissioner Nakapiripirirt Bob William Labeja says the messages target all communities living along the Matheniko Bokora Corridor adding that he has also notified his counterparts in other districts to sensitize the community on wildlife.

 //Cue in: “The role of the political ...  Cue out: ... that positivity.”//

According to Ecodu, poaching remains the main challenge at the wildlife corridors of Kidepo National Game Park as well as the Matheniko – Bokora Wildlife corridor. Poachers target several wildlife species including pangolins, elephants, among others.