UWA’s Revenue Sharing Standoff: Local Governments’ Accountability Issues Halt Funds for Communities

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has revealed that Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda is currently is stuck with One Billion, Five Hundred Million Shillings (Shs 1.5Bn) due to local governments’ failure to account for funds allocated during the financial year 2023/2024.

Each financial year, UWA allocates 20 percent of its gate revenue collection to the districts neighboring national parks and game reserves. These funds are intended for local governments to support communities in the sub-counties adjacent to the parks, which often bear the brunt of wildlife incursions, particularly from elephants that damage local gardens.

Captain John Tugume, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Queen Elizabeth National Park, stated that they are currently unable to disburse Shs 1.5Bn earmarked for the districts surrounding the national parks. “We are stuck with Shs 1.5Bn in revenue sharing funds that were supposed to benefit the sub-counties adjacent to the parks and game reserves. These funds are crucial for communities suffering from the effects of wildlife invasions,” he explained.

Last year, UWA successfully disbursed Shs 1.2Bn to eight districts neighboring Queen Elizabeth National Park. However, Captain Tugume noted that the Chief Administrative Officers of these districts have failed to provide accountability for these funds, preventing any further disbursements until the previous funds are accounted for.

“Due to our increased revenue collection, we raised the revenue sharing amount from Shs 1.2Bn to Shs 1.5Bn. These local governments were supposed to receive their share in July this year, but they are unable to do so because they have not accounted for last year’s Shs 1.2Bn,” he added.

The districts on spotlight for the accounted for the funds include Ibanda, Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, Mitoma, Kitagwenda, Kanungu, and Kamwenge. Once these funds are released to local governments through the community development officers , the districts are expected to identify groups in the sub-counties adjacent to the parks and transfer the funds to them for income-generating activities such as beekeeping, goat rearing, piggery, and dairy farming. This initiative aims to enhance household incomes and serve as compensation for gardens damaged by elephants.

Captain Tugume emphasized that the release of revenue is vital for connecting UWA with local communities and strengthening relationships.

He noted that in the financial year 2024/2025, Queen Elizabeth National Park welcomed 128,608 visitors, a significant increase from 90,851 in 2023/2024.

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Addressing the District Communication Officers from the districts neighbouring the National Parks and game reserves in Uganda during their familiarization tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park , Capt.Tugume asked the communication officers to talk to the chief administrative officers implicated in failure to account for the funds to do so , to enable UWA release the funds for the communities receive funds and embark on development projects.

The CE further reported that a total of 8,768,597,087 shillings was collected as actual revenue for Queen Elizabeth National Park in FY 2024/2025, compared to 7,736,597,860 shillings in 2023/2024, reflecting an annual increase of 1,030,928,227 shillings.