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Uganda Wildlife Authority has introduced drones for enhanced security in its national parks. These drones will help detect and deter illegal activities, ensuring the safety of tourists. Other security measures have also been implemented, leading to increased tourism.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has enhanced the comprehensive surveillance of all national game parks in the country by deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones.

These cameras, which have also been deployed at Queen Elizabeth National Park, are designed to identify any unauthorized individuals who may attempt to enter the parks with malicious intentions.

This development follows a recent incident where two foreign tourists and their driver were ambushed and attacked by unidentified individuals within the national park.

The announcement of this deployment was made on Sunday by UWA spokesperson Bashir Hangi.

During the visit, it was observed that tourism activities are proceeding as usual, thanks to an increased number of security measures implemented after the attack on tourists on October 17, 2023.

Mr. Hangi stated that these drones will play a crucial role in apprehending and prosecuting individuals involved in illegal activities within the parks.

“Incorporating cameras stationed within the parks has yielded positive results, enabling us to retrieve footage and identify unauthorized park entries, subsequently leading to arrests and legal actions,” Mr. Hangi commented.

“Through drone technology, we can conduct aerial surveillance of the park, identifying any illicit activities, including incidents such as fires, and taking immediate action,” he added.

However, Mr. Hangi noted that due to budget constraints, the number of drones is currently limited, but there are plans to increase their deployment due to their efficiency and effectiveness.

“For now, we have a total of eight drones covering all the parks, but we aim to expand this number in the near future,” he explained.

Effectiveness of the drones:

Mr. Hangi revealed that these drones are capable of covering a 15km area of the park in a single flight, operating for 10 hours each day under the supervision of a dedicated team that conducts regular patrols throughout the entire park. This initiative has already led to the successful detection and apprehension of many individuals attempting unauthorized entry into the park.

“Every morning, before tourists begin their exploration of the park, our patrol team deploys drones to ensure park safety. Additionally, drones are flown throughout the day as per a predefined schedule,” he emphasized.

New Security Measures:

In addition to the use of drones, several other security measures have been implemented, including thorough inspections of the park by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers, joint patrols by the police, UWA, and UPDF, military intelligence operations, and border control at all park entrances. These measures have positively impacted the daily activities within the park and have led to a consistent influx of tourists.

Pontious Ezuma, the chief warden of Queen Elizabeth National Park, noted that following the isolated attack on tourists, there has been a significant increase in the number of tourists, especially foreign visitors.

“Between October 17, 2023, and now, we have welcomed 957 tourists, of which 638 are from foreign countries,” he reported.

Csilla Saxer, a tourist from the Netherlands, expressed her confidence and satisfaction with the presence of UPDF soldiers throughout the park, which made her research expedition successful.

“I felt confident and successfully conducted my research,” Ms. Saxer remarked.

Statements from Resident District Commissioners (RDCs):

As the second-largest National Park in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park spans four western districts: Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, and Kamwengye.

Kasese Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Joe Walusimbi assured that the security situation is back to normal and calm, urging visitors who have made reservations to visit the park without hesitation.

Rubirizi RDC Bron Kikanshemeza called on social media users to refrain from exaggerating incidents and spreading unfounded fear to the global community.