Uganda Wildlife Authority is seeking Shs 10 billion to acquire a helicopter to strengthen wildlife surveillance in national parks, support animal rescue operations, and facilitate the rapid transportation of veterinary doctors to treat injured wildlife.
Dorcus Rukundo Twesigomwe, UWA’s Business Development Manager, appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Tourism during the consideration of the Tourism Sector’s 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper (NBFP).Rukundo clarified that the amount does not cover maintenance.
“The members were asking whether this helicopter at Shs 10 billion includes maintenance. The Shs 10 billion does not include maintenance. We are hoping to procure a brand-new helicopter, and therefore maintenance will come slightly later,” Rukundo told MPs.
She explained that the helicopter would significantly enhance UWA’s operational capacity across protected areas.
However, Members of Parliament raised concerns over whether the proposed Shs 10 billion allocation includes maintenance costs for the aircraft.
“This helicopter will be used for surveillance of our protected areas. It will help us conduct patrols and also support rescue operations,” she said.
Rukundo added that the aircraft would improve rapid response to wildlife emergencies by enabling the quick deployment of veterinary doctors to hard-to-reach areas where animals may be injured or under threat.
The proposal forms part of UWA’s broader strategy to strengthen wildlife protection, improve park security, and promote sustainable tourism through enhanced monitoring and enforcement across national parks.
UWA oversees 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves and several sanctuaries across the country. Its mandate includes conservation, law enforcement, tourism development and working with surrounding communities. Wildlife-based tourism remains a major contributor to Uganda’s foreign exchange earnings, making effective protection of animals critical to the sector.
Tourism in Uganda
According to official report,Uganda’s tourism sector has experienced a strong recovery, with earnings rising by 26% to approximately USD 1.28 billion to $1.52 billion in 2024–2025. As a leading foreign exchange earner, tourism directly contributes roughly 3% to 10% of the national GDP, with over 1.3 million international arrivals and growing domestic participation.
Government of Uganda has prioritized the Tourism Sector as one of the primary contributors to the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Tourism Sector has the potential to propel and transform Uganda to a middle-income status. However, it is important to note that as the sector registers successes, there is a bigger challenge of Human-Wildlife Conflicts (HWC) that could affect the attitude of the communities and other stakeholders towards the growing animal populations.
Human-Wildlife conflicts are seen to be prevalent in/ around areas where wildlife exists outside designated wildlife PAs. Uganda Wildlife Authority is mandated to manage all wildlife under the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 and other relevant laws.
This 10-year National Plan for Wildlife Outside UWA’s Wildlife Protected Areas is the first of its kind in Uganda. The purpose of the plan is to enhance wildlife protection and conservation in critical eco-systems outside the wildlife PAs. The plan also aims at putting in place strategies to support communities to benefit from this wildlife with minimized HWC incidents.