Govt Places Bugoma, Echuya and Bukaleba Forest Reserves Under UWA Management

What the report says

Government has temporarily put Bugoma, Echuya and Bukaleba Central Forest Reserves under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, according to a report by Nile Post. The move was announced by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, through gazetted measures issued under Section 28 of the Uganda Wildlife Act.

The temporary arrangement is set to last six months while Parliament considers whether to declare the three reserves wildlife conservation areas. Nile Post reported that the forests are regarded as ecologically important, and that the decision is part of a wider process to formalize their protection status. The article did not say when Parliament will complete its review.

Under the new measures, UWA is expected to deploy staff, secure reserve boundaries, prevent encroachment and illegal use of resources, restore degraded areas and strengthen law enforcement. The authority is also tasked with supporting research and tourism, as well as working with communities and other agencies during the transition.

UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi welcomed the temporary framework, saying it gives the agency a legal basis to protect the forests while the declaration process continues. The report also said UWA has urged local communities and leaders to cooperate with the measures. In general, such temporary transfers are often used when governments seek tighter conservation oversight before a permanent legal designation is finalized.