Our Focus
As the first umbrella body of its kind, there’s much to do. There are many challenges and threats to conservation in Uganda, but so are the opportunities.
Uganda faces numerous challenges and threats to its conservation efforts. These include human-wildlife conflict, land grabbing, limited alternative sources of livelihood around protected areas, population changes and population dynamics, land use changes, conflict of interest in wildlife management, climate change, and more.
Each of these issues poses a significant risk to the delicate balance between preserving its natural heritage and meeting the growing needs of its people.
Our focus areas
Conservancy Recognition
Driving efforts to get conservancies recognized and established as a viable land use management system across Uganda.
Building Partnerships
Facilitating and increasing institutional partnerships and collaborations between Umoja, the conservancies and other relevant stakeholders to further drive benefits for people and nature in Uganda.
Knowledge Sharing
Providing a platform for the conservancies to share their knowledge, expertise and current practices in the management of conservancies. This will help to establish best practices, and grow more effective conservancies.
Opportunities
Growing community conservation.
Community conservation initiatives have proven to be transformative across Africa. Umoja, through its role in promoting community-led conservation and wildlife management, holds the unique opportunity and mandate to mobilize and engage local communities in growing this movement across Uganda.
Transforming mindsets.
High cases of human-wildlife conflict in some areas near Uganda's national parks lead to negative attitudes towards wildlife. The high costs of coexistence without full benefits exacerbates this conflict. Umoja's community conservation efforts address the root causes, transforming mindsets and enabling communities to benefit from wildlife on their land.
Improving livelihoods.
Through Umoja's emphasis on community management of wildlife and local decision-making, there is potential to improve livelihoods significantly. Communities stand to benefit from revenue sharing through community programmes, and enhanced service delivery in essential sectors like health and education. Umoja's holistic approach promises brighter prospects for wildlife conservation and local communities' well-being.
