Uganda’s Open Park Day initiative is garnering more attention and involvement from the local communities that live within, around and close to conservation areas.
This, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is vital in buttressing the relationship between the Authority, the community and biodiversity conservation strategies.
Now in its second year, the Open Park Day initiative was launched last year by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities together with Uganda Wildlife Authority during World Tourism Day celebrations held in Kasese.
According to UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi, giving back to the communities is crucial because they are central to the Authority’s conservation ideals.
“As UWA, we are happy and delighted to give back to the people, the local communities with whom we work because they are central to our work. As we celebrate tourism week, we have opened up the Savannah Parks for all East Africans to enjoy free of charge. The most important thing is for you to observe all the rules for your own safety and that of the wildlife,” Dr. Musinguzi said.
Creating more interest in conservation among the locals, according to the ED, gives the people a better perspective and understanding about the existence of conservatories and why conservation is critical to the survival of the ecosystem and all that live off of it.
“We want the communities living adjacent to these parks to appreciate the value of conserving biodiversity and the value of all these national parks so that we collaborate better in wildlife management for Uganda’s tourism and conservation, and the economy because these parks bring in a lot of money,” he said.
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Young people embracing nature
As Uganda’s parks swung their gates open on the morning of September 25th, it was evident that apart from the usual tourism, travel and conservation influencers, young children, pupils and students from the local communities had heard and responded positively to the UWA’s call.
Excitement and enthusiasm danced on the faces of children, many of whom stated it was their first ever visit to the parks despite living close to them.
Some spoke of the horror stories they have heard resulting from human-wildlife conflict and how experiencing the parks and learning more about the realities of conservation shifted their stand on wildlife conservation.
Rwenzori College of Commerce students who spent the day in Queen Elizabeth National Park were particularly impressed by the diversity of wildlife seen around the park “in a single game drive.”
Locals who flocked Lake Mburo National Park were surprised to see how harmoniously humans can interact with wildlife at close range as the famous walking tours kicked off, the giraffes of Mburo hosting the mesmerized visitors to a wild party in the beautiful Savanna.
“A boat cruise on Lake Mburo, part of a 50km swamp system, showcases a vibrant aquatic life – hippos, crocodiles, and birds enjoying the serene waters,” one of the visitors wrote in a post shared about their open park day experience in Lake Mburo National Park.
Murchison Falls National Park
For Murchison Falls National Park, the journey is as rewarding as the destination.
Driving through the dense Budongo Forest on one of the best road stretches in Uganda is not just dreamy, the baboons going about their day by the roadside were a delicious treat for first timers.
And while many were dazed by the endless beauty of the green stretch, their excitement was tripled by the visit to the top of the falls, as the world’s most powerful waterfalls raged before their sight.
Even for frequent visitors, the Falls rumble with a new sound each time, not drastically different but definitely more captivating.
The abundance of wildlife; elephants, impalas, buffalos, giraffes, birds, lions and warthogs which are easily seen from the main road makes Murchison a great destination for the big communities that inhabit its peripherals.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Meanwhile, North of Mount Elgon, locals explored the vast Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve plains, exploring the lush landscape that is home to a plethora of wildlife species including but not limited to the Roan Antelopes, Elands, Giraffes and Jackson’s hartebeest.
For the ethnicities in North Eastern Uganda, however, visiting Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve means much more than just viewing wildlife, the ever-so intriguing Napedet Cave whose history is a fascinating embodiment of their culture is another reward.
UWA is optimistic that when locals enjoy the parks and reserves they are asked to protect, they have even more reason to contribute to conservation approaches like eliminating poaching, cattle grazing on park land among others.
In Kidepo Valley National Park, locals couldn’t help but burst into dances – the famous Edonga move taking center stage before boarding the UWA bus for a deserved game drive.
“We are glad to receive communities flooding the parks for Open Park Day. Nothing brings us more joy than seeing the community smile,” UWA wrote in a post on X as videos of elated visitors boarding for the game drives circulated both on mainstream and social media platforms.
The Open Park Day initiative is conducted in five Savanna conservatories including Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
