As Uganda gears up to join the rest of the world in celebrating World Tourism Day slated for March 6, 2024, in Kyegegwa district under the theme ‘Connecting People on the Planet, Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation,’ the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) has initiated digital innovation and outreach programs for sensitization. Students are expected to share conservation skills with their families on issues such as poaching and mindset change.
The smart technology, including cyber trackers, ODK systems, satellite tracking systems, GIS, among others, facilitates wildlife tracking, provides feedback to the center, and monitors animal populations in national parks. This program is set to extend to various sectors, including transporters, judiciary, and district leaders.
However, different wildlife conservation organizations have voiced concerns over the declining number of wildlife in national parks, attributing it to underutilization of tourism innovation programs like smart technology. According to Isaac Mujaasi, Senior Project Officer at UWEC, the decrease in animal numbers may not solely be attributed to poaching but also to natural causes and human activities such as oil and gas exploration, traffic, and infrastructure development.
Mujaasi emphasized the need for more public sensitization on wildlife conservation as a revenue source. He stressed the importance of addressing threats to wildlife habitats, including littering, which poses risks to animals.
Gertrude Kirabo, Senior Warden of Awareness and Education at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), highlighted their mandate to sustain and conserve wildlife in the country. She underscored UWA’s role as the primary custodian and implementer of the launched programs. Kirabo encouraged students to engage in environmental preservation and wildlife conservation initiatives while utilizing technological systems.