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Uganda Conservation Foundation

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Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF)
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom (UK)
Location
  • Uganda Conservation Foundation Low Mains Farm Masham North Yorkshire HG4 4PS UK
Locations
  • Plot 6, Faraday Road – Bugolobi Kampala Uganda
Fieldswildlife conservation
Websitehttps://ugandacf.org/

Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) is a UK-registered charity and not-for-profit organisation in Uganda that works with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and other partners, both local and international to protect Uganda's national parks, protected areas, and conservancies.[1] Uganda Wildlife Authority, a semi-autonomous government agency works with independent organisations to support their mandate of conserving, managing and regulating Uganda's wildlife. UCF was founded in 2001 by Michael Keigwin MBE who was responsible for running the Elephants, Crops and People project in Queen Elizabeth National Park.[2] UCF has since worked with UWA in Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Recovery of Murchison Falls Programme

In 2012, UCF supported UWA in their bid to put a stop to increasingly common incidences[spelling?] of poaching. Through this project they managed to develop the appropriate infrastructure to combat poaching by training and equipping rangers, building a state of the art communications system and by providing vehicles.[3]

They also established and managed an educational program within the communities on the fringes of the park. Through this program 80 young people have been able to go through vocational training.[4]

Also of particular note is the recently completed Law Enforcement and Operations Center in Murchison Falls National Park which features an advanced anti-poaching mechanism, from satellite linked surveillance screens to temporary prison cells and a police station. One hundred youths from the park-adjacent communities were employed by the contractor and many of them are now training to join UWA as rangers.[5]

Since its inception, the recovery of Murchison falls project has constructed 12 key Ranger posts in strategic locations around the park and implemented a new surveillance system.[6] This has been fundamental in fighting poaching and helping animal numbers to increase. Rothschild's giraffe numbers have increased from 400 to 2000 whilst African bush elephant numbers have increased to around 3000.[7]

  • The Joint Law Enforcement and Operations Center
    The Joint Law Enforcement and Operations Center
  • The Police Post at the Joint Law Enforcement and Operations Center at Murchison Falls National Park
    The Police Post at the Joint Law Enforcement and Operations Center
  • Anti Trafficking Center at Murchison Falls National Park
    The Anti Trafficking Center
  • Confiscated snares and traps inside the Anti Trafficking Center at Murchison Falls National Park
    Confiscated snares and traps inside the Anti Trafficking Center
  • Marine Ranger Station at Buligi in Murchison Falls National Park
    Marine Ranger Station at Buligi in Murchison Falls National Park

COVID-19 response

The COVID-19 pandemic saw tourism grind to a halt, and the 95% drop in funding had devastating effects on the national park's operations. The loss of income left them grappling to keep up with the day-to-day costs associated with protecting and rescuing wildlife.

The Wildlife Ranger Challenge was established in 2020 to support rangers across Africa who had been negatively impacted by COVID-19.[8][9] The Uganda arm of the event, which consisted of ranger teams running a half marathon with 22 kg on their back, took place in Queen Elizabeth national park in both 2020 & 2021 and was managed by UCF.[10]

References

  1. ^ ""The Ivory Trap" Film Premieres in Uganda". Taiwan News. 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  2. ^ "Masham man who founded charity to protect African elephants is honoured". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  3. ^ "Murchison Falls 2019-2020 Progress Report | News | Global Conservation". globalconservation.org. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  4. ^ "The community comes together to build in Murchison Falls National Park". David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  5. ^ @NatGeoUK (2021-08-17). "How conservationists are striving to protect the wildlife of Uganda's national parks". National Geographic. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  6. ^ "UWA gets surveillance equipment to bolster wildlife sector". PML Daily. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  7. ^ "Journal of the Elephant Managers Association" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Home 2021". Wildlife Ranger Challenge. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  9. ^ "Uganda: Rangers raise awareness for wildlife conservation as park funding plummets due to lost tourism". Conservation Magazine. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  10. ^ "Uganda Conservation Foundation enters 21km charity ranger run for wildlife conservation". TravelDailyNews International. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
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