Transboundary Conservation and Northern Uganda

Transboundary conservation is a strategy that has multiple benefits. It can foster peace and cooperation; secure areas for biodiversity conservation; provide resilience to climate change impacts; and enhance nature based economic activities in and around transboundary conservation areas. Through the US Forest Service (International Programs) and with funding from USAID, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has assisted the East African Community to organize and successfully conduct the first regional conference on Transboundary Conservation in East Africa. As part of the background information to the conference a situational analysis of transboundary conservation in East Africa and an accompanying video were prepared. Both the analysis and the video highlight the current status of transboundary conservation in East Africa as well as its constraints and opportunities. The situational analysis and the conference proceedings will be availed online once completed. 

WCS is involved in transboundary conservation in Uganda and neighboring countries through its Albertine Rift Program which supports conservation authorities and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration in conserving one of the most biodiverse regions in Africa. Similarly WCS, under its USAID funded Wildlife, Landscapes, and Development for Conservation (WILD) program, supported the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in transboundary collaboration in conservation landscapes along the border with South Sudan,.particularly in the Kidepo and the Mount Otze - Dufile landscapes.

The contents of the video and the opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the East African Community, the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Forest Service or the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Uganda Diaspora Summit in Gulu and Tourism

"My Home, My Investment” was the theme for the Investment Summit of Ugandan Diaspora organized by Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) / Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Acholi Inn in Gulu on 22^nd December 2011. Since 2007 UIA has made it an annual event to invite Ugandans living in Diaspora to events that encourage them to invest in their home country Uganda. The events are organized in a series of summits and the Gulu one was the first of its kind in 2011 followed by two other summits in Kampala.

Wildlife Conservation Society was invited to inform the attendants about the tourism investment opportunities in Northern Uganda, the first time that the Tourism in Northern Uganda was featured as an opportunity at such event.

Apart from highlighting numerous opportunities directly in tourism sector (water-based tourism, nature, culture); the discussion of the participants also focused on related activities such as agricultural interventions which could help mitigate human-wildlife conflict (e.g. chili farming, apiculture, lemon grass and sim sim production). It was also noted that more needs to be done in public relations to highlight stability and peache in Northern Uganda.

The discussions at the summit also revolved along other industry sectors, such as agriculture, financial services, oil industry, and infrastructure.

Carol Bogezi, WCS representative presents attendees about tourism investment opportunities in northern Uganda.