Kigezi Leaders Applaud UWA's Management of Echuya Forest

The Echuya Central Forest Reserve, long managed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA), has now been placed under the stewardship of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). This transition, formalized through temporary measures by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, is set to last for six months pending parliamentary approval.

Local leaders, including former Kisoro LCV chairman Abel Bizimana, have welcomed the change, citing previous management shortcomings under the NFA. Bizimana advocated for merging Echuya with the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by compensating landowners situated between the two ecosystems. He believes this integration would bolster tourism revenue sharing for Kisoro and Rubanda districts.

Bizimana also proposed habituating gorilla or chimpanzee families in Echuya, similar to Bwindi, and introducing golden monkeys to further attract tourists. The reserve is already known for its diverse bird species, butterflies, baboons, and monkeys.

Conservationists like Henry Mutabaazi, country coordinator for the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, echoed the positive sentiment, stating that the takeover should have occurred much earlier. Mutabaazi highlighted concerns about past mismanagement, including encroachment for potato cultivation and grazing, and the presence of exotic tree species. He recommended UWA focus on restoring degraded areas and removing invasive plants to preserve the forest’s natural integrity.

Mutabaazi also emphasized Echuya’s rich biodiversity, including endemic Albert Rift species like the Grauer’s Rush Warbler and populations of blue monkeys and other small mammals. The reserve’s Muchuya swamp is noted as a vital water source for local communities.

Tourism stakeholders, such as Canon Ivan Mbabazi Batuma of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, see this as a prime opportunity for private sector investment, anticipating Echuya’s eventual gazetting as a national park. The move is expected to significantly boost the tourism sector in the Kigezi region.