Uganda Wildlife Authority Leases out Pien-Upe wildlife reserve

Uganda is seeing a great increase in the number of tourists coming into the country and it is reaping huge from this service industry. In an effort to improve the local tourism industry and bring it to International Standards, UWA, has embarked on awarding management of some of the local reserves to private developers. The latest is Pien-Upe wildlife Reserve which has been awarded to Overland Safaris Limited and runs up to 2028 a period of 20 years.

This wildlife Reserve is found in the East of the country in the Karamoja district of Nakapiripirit which is home to antelopes, red bucks, warthogs, crocodiles, elands, zebras, hyenas, buffaloes and great number of bird species.

The Wildlife Reserve will be run in accordance to the Uganda Wildlife Authority Act 2000 in addition to other guidelines and legal requirements. The Management Agreement which was signed by Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive director, Mr. Moses Mapesa and the Managing director of Overland Safaris together with the Local Council Chairman for the district, Mr. John Nangiro was established in October states that Overland safaris Limited will now be known as Karimajong Overland Safaris Limited.

The warden and ranger force will be appointed by Uganda Wildlife Authority as well as 20 per cent of the collections from the gate which will remain a part time manager according to Mr. Johnson Masereka the chief Warden of Mountain Elgon National Park

He further stated that the local communities and the district of Nakapiripirit local government would still remain on board to partner with the Karimajong Overland safaris Limited. The private developer would be responsible for restoring the viable species of wildlife in the Wildlife Reserve, developing the necessary infrastructure and translocating in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as well as develop tourism activities and aid the local community in tourism based enterprise.

Karimajong Overland Safaris Limited will be responsible for developing social amenities and the tourism circuits on agreed terms and standard with the local community. The private developer will also be responsible for developing infrastructure like an airstrip, tracking trails and roads as well as doing community tourism and communication services in the area. The company has plenty of tourist camps in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Zambia and other countries.