UWA to Deploy 1,358 New Rangers to Strengthen Wildlife Conservation

What the report says

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is preparing to deploy 1,358 newly trained rangers to bolster wildlife protection and conservation work as its responsibilities expand. According to Nile Post, the recruits are being trained at UWA’s Lugaya Training School in Murchison Falls National Park and are expected to graduate on December 4, 2026. The intake includes more than 900 men and 405 women, and UWA says the new personnel are meant to help close staffing gaps across conservation areas.

The authority said the reinforcements come as it takes on management of additional areas, including Bugoma and Echuya Central Forest Reserve. During a visit to the training school, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Minister Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime reviewed parade preparations and field exercises. He urged the trainees to show discipline, resilience and restraint in enforcement work, stressing that suspected poachers should be arrested and processed through the law rather than treated as enemies.

UWA Executive Director James Musinguzi said the recruitment is part of a broader effort to strengthen patrols, remove illegal snares and improve law enforcement in protected areas. He also said conservation work must be paired with stronger community relations, especially in places where population growth, grazing and cultivation pressure are increasing human-wildlife conflict.

UWA communications official Bashir Hangi said the program includes firearms handling, field operations, community engagement and professional conduct. He said the recruits are being prepared for remote deployments and for work that requires both enforcement and cooperation with nearby communities. The development matters because UWA’s workload is growing, and the agency says conservation success will depend on enough trained staff and stronger public partnership.