conservation 21 October 2025 Uganda Wildlife Authority

UWA and Freeland Forge Partnership for Enhanced Wildlife Protection

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Freeland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bolster wildlife conservation through enhanced collaboration, training, and cross-border initiatives. This partnership aims to combat wildlife trafficking and environmental crimes on a global scale. Source: https://ugandawildlife.org/uwa-and-freeland-collaborate-to-advance-cross-border-wildlife-conservation

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has formalized a crucial partnership with Freeland, a non-governmental organization dedicated to conservation efforts worldwide. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was recently signed, marking a significant step towards strengthening wildlife protection and combating illegal activities impacting biodiversity.

This agreement will facilitate enhanced cooperation across several key areas, including capacity building for UWA staff and rangers, the development of joint investigative efforts, and the promotion of cross-border conservation initiatives. A notable component of the MOU includes the establishment of an exchange program.

This program is designed to provide UWA personnel with valuable experience by working alongside regional and international task forces. It will also involve hosting conservation experts from partner regions, fostering a robust environment for shared learning and knowledge exchange.

Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of UWA, underscored the significance of this collaboration. He highlighted that wildlife trafficking remains a pervasive global challenge, and expressed UWA’s commitment to not tackling this issue in isolation. “We appreciate Freeland’s support in training and knowledge sharing, which are vital for capacity building. Enabling staff to gain experience and recognize their skills is essential,” Dr. Musinguzi stated.

Steven Galster, Founder and Chairman of Freeland, reiterated the organization’s global mission to empower governments in building task force capabilities, championing cross-border cooperation, and devising innovative solutions for human-wildlife conflicts. The partnership signifies a strengthened commitment from both UWA and Freeland towards robust wildlife protection, collaborative conservation efforts across borders, and the global fight against wildlife trafficking and associated environmental crimes.