The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has received a boost to its field operations after acquiring three Land Cruiser vehicles to strengthen surveillance across protected areas.
The vehicles were donated by the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) and handed over to UWA Executive Director James Musinguzi by GVTC Executive Secretary Andrew Sseguya.
Speaking during the handover, Musinguzi welcomed the support, saying it comes at a critical moment for conservation and public health monitoring.
“These vehicles will significantly enhance our capacity to conduct surveillance in protected areas and improve our response to emerging threats,” he said.
“They will especially support the transportation of samples from remote conservation areas to laboratories for timely testing and analysis.”
He added that the new fleet will also strengthen collaboration with communities living near protected areas.
“Communities are our first line of defence. With improved mobility, we can engage them more effectively and respond quickly to any unusual health or wildlife incidents,” Musinguzi noted.
On his part, Sseguya said the donation reflects the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared environmental and health challenges.
“This support is part of our commitment to strengthening the One Health approach, which recognises the connection between human, animal, and ecosystem health,” he said.
“By improving surveillance and coordination, we are better positioned to prevent and respond to cross-border threats.”
The intervention is aligned with ongoing efforts by Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo under the GVTC framework to enhance conservation, disease surveillance, and ecosystem management in the Greater Virunga landscape.
Officials say the vehicles are expected to improve response times, strengthen field coordination, and reinforce the protection of Uganda’s biodiversity while safeguarding public health.