The Parliament has passed key legislation facilitating the merger of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC).
The approval of the Uganda Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre Act (Repeal) Bill, 2024, sets the stage for a unified approach to wildlife conservation in the country.
The merger, supported by detailed legislative amendments, aims to streamline operations and reduce redundancies between the two bodies. According to a report from Parliament’s committee on trade, the merger is anticipated to bring about considerable financial efficiencies, with a forecasted savings of UGX 15.166 billion in the 2024/25 fiscal year, escalating to UGX 16.5 billion the following year.
Despite the potential benefits, the process has raised concerns regarding the impact on employment. The merger will affect 64 employees, necessitating a one-off expense of UGX 1.334 billion in terminal benefits. Addressing these concerns, Leader of Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, emphasized the importance of strategic human resource management to avoid merely “merging problems.”
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butime, defended the merger in Parliament, highlighting the complementary functions of the UWA and UWEC. “While the merger consolidates our operations, it preserves the core missions of both entities,” Minister Butime stated, underscoring that the integration is intended to strengthen rather than diminish the effectiveness of Uganda’s wildlife management.
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