Kampala, Uganda: Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has strengthened its conservation capacity with the acquisition of eight new Toyota Land Cruiser Double-Cabin Pickups. These vehicles are intended to enhance operations within the country’s protected areas.
The new fleet was officially handed over at UWA headquarters in Kampala to the chief wardens of Pian-Upe, Kidepo Valley, Bwindi-Mgahinga, Lake Mburo, Mount Elgon, Murchison Falls, Kibale, and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. The distribution aims to ease fieldwork and improve mobility in daily conservation activities.
Speaking at the handover, John Makombo, UWA’s Senior Manager for Biodiversity Management—who represented the Executive Director—stated that the vehicles will play a vital role in closing transportation gaps faced by field officers. He stressed that the pickups should be strictly used for conservation and tourism operations, not personal convenience.
“These vehicles are not just tools; they represent the image of our institution,” Makombo remarked. “They must be driven responsibly and maintained properly to reflect UWA’s commitment to excellence.”
Mugisa Jimmy, UWA’s Senior Manager for Finance and Administration, noted that the new vehicles—fitted with modern features—will significantly lower maintenance costs. This comes in contrast to the outgoing fleet of 14 vehicles, each of which has logged over 500,000 kilometers and become increasingly costly to maintain.
