The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has of recent received many inquiries regarding the security situation in our national parks especially those bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the western part of the country.

Tourists are also reluctant to visit Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) and Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) for security concerns. UWA wishes to inform all our partners and visitors that all our national parks are safe and very far from the activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.

LRA bandits are operating over 200 kilometers away from the borders of these two parks and even then security forces have been deployed in strategic places outside the parks to ensure that the LRA do not get into our parks. Because of the new security measures in place there has been no incursion by LRA into the parks since 2001.

We would also like to inform all our stakeholders especially the tourists and tour companies that Uganda Wildlife Authority is in constant liaison with the country’s security agencies including Police, Internal Security Organization (ISO) and Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), which are responsible for ensuring security in the country.

UWA staff on the ground in the national parks have adequate communication equipment including mobile phones and radio communication, and are in position at all times to get in touch with security should the need arise.

We have mechanisms in place for a quick response within practical limits, and this can always be executed jointly with Police, ISO and UPDF.

However UWA still advises everybody to be security conscious while in the national parks, and to obey park regulations at all times.

UWA wishes to encourage the tourists to proceed with their plans to visit Uganda and enjoy the country’s vast beauty.