DEDICATION
I Dedicate this internship report to my dear parents; Mr Ben Besigye Tumusiime and Mrs Peace
Kenyangi Tumusiime, for their great work and efforts to ensure that I attain the best education
possible. May the almighty father bless you continuously and abundantly.
My sincere appreciation also goes to conservation area manager Mr. Okello Obong Tom for
allowing us to do our industrial training in MFCA and also for sharing knowledge with us. May
God reward him abundantly.
I also appreciate the Administration of Nkumba University, the dean of school of sciences Prof.
Orach Meza Faustino and his staff for granting me the opportunity to train with Uganda Wildlife
Authority.
I would like to also extend special thanks to Mr. Mbwebwe peter, my field supervisor for having
taken and sacrificed his time to ensure that I perform as expected during my training, My God
always bless the works of his hands.
1
ABBREVIATIONS
UWA…………………………………………. UGANDA WILDLIFE ATHOURITY
AOP………………………………………… ANNUAL OPERATIONS PLAN
MFNP …………………………………….... MURCHISON FALLS NATIOPNAL PARK
NFA………………………………………… NATIONAL FORESTRY AUTHORITY
NEMA ……………………………………...NATIONAL ENVIROMENT AUTHORITY
WR …………………………………………WILDLIFE RESERVE
EIA…………………………………………..ENVIROMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT
MFPA…………………………………..……MURCHISON FALLS PROTECTED AREA
CAM……………………………………...….CONSERVATION AREA MANAGER
MSD……………………………………...….MASINDI
BLS……………………………………...…...BULIISA
NWO……………………………………...….NWOYA
NBB……………………………………...….NEBBI
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report consists of the history of MFCA, introduction and activities carried out in the park.
It also consists of the major challenges that are faced by MFNP
It talks about the various departments in MFCA and the activities they cordinate in the park.
These departments include Research and monitoring, Finance and Administration, law
enforcement, Engineering, tourism, oil Monitoring and community conservation department.
It further talks about the sources of funding that are used in paying workers and also running the
activities.
It also talks about wildlife reserves around MFNP such as Bugungu WR and Karuma WR
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION…………………………………………………………………...1
ABREVIATIONS…………………………………………………………………..2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………...3
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………..6
BACK-GROUND…………………………………………………………………...7
OBJECTIVES………………………………………………………………………10
JUSTIFICATION…………………………………………………………………...11
CHAPTER TWO
METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………………….12
OBSERVATION……………………………………………………………………12
INTERVIEW………………………………………………………………………..12
LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………………………………...…13
CHAPTER THREE
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS………………………………………………….14
ORGAN GRAME…………………………………………………………………..15
TOURISM DEPARTMENT……………………………………………………......15
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT……………………………...19
RESEARCH AND MONITORING DEPARTMENT……………………………...20
4
ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT……………………………………………………..22
ENGENEERING/WORKSHOP DEPARTMENT…………………………………23
OIL DEPARTMENT……………………………………………………….………25
LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT……………………………….………...25
SOURCES OF FUNDS…………………………………………………………….28
CHALLENGES…………………………………………………………….............31
CHAPTER FOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………………………….……….35
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………....……….35
REFERANCES…………………………………………………………….…........35
5
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction:
This report is about Murchison Falls Conservation Area which is the biggest protected area in
Uganda covering about 5,025 square kilometers which comprises of Murchison Falls National
Park, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves and in the Southern part,
Budongo Forest, Kabwoya Wildlife reserve, Ajai Wildlife reserve (166 sq km), EastMadi
Wildlife reserve (827 sq km). The game park is recognized after the amazing Murchison falls on
River Nile, which meets a gap in the Rift Valley Escarpment, and then it changes into bubbles of
noisy white water, a rare site in East Africa. At this point, it is where River Nile explodes down
to become a composed river whose banks are thronged with buffaloes, hippos, waterbucks and
crocodiles. The park vegetation is defined by nice looking savanna, riverine vegetation and
woodland. Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of Albertine rift valley, where
the large Bunyoro escarpment joins together with the vast plains of Acholi region. Murchison
Falls National Park can be reached by air or by road covering about 305 km from Kampala
spending 5hours on the way. Charter flights can land at airstrips north of the Nile at Pakuba
19kms from Paraa and south at Bugungu 13kms from Paraa.Paraa covers a distance of about
85km from Masindi town by the shortest route. You can also access Paraa from the north
through Chobe Gate, Karuma Falls along with Tangi gate. The Gate, close to Pakwach covers an
area of about 25km to Paraa in addition to Wankwar Gate close by Purongo trading centre.
1.2 Establishment
Uganda Wildlife Authority is a semi-autonomous statutory body established in 1996 by an Act of
Parliament (Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 200 of the laws of Uganda 2000) following a merger of
the former Uganda National Parks and the then Game Department. UWA was created to ensure
sustainable management of wildlife and coordinate, monitor and supervise activities related to
wildlife management.
UWA formulates its own operational policies and plans as well as generating and spending its
own revenue. The organization also receives government subvention to support its operations.
6
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities which is in charge of wildlife is responsible
for the wildlife policy formulation, oversight, technical guidance and monitoring performance of
UWA. In the broader context, UWA’s activities and operations subscribe to the work of the
environment and natural resources sector working group under the sector wise approach to
planning. UWA is a member of working group and arising out of need for coordination and
collaboration, also shares lateral relationships with similar organizations within the sector such
as National Forestry Authority (NFA), Fisheries department, wetlands management department,
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), local government and other
stakeholders.
1.3 BACKGROUND
Between 1897 and 1915, there was an outbreak of sleeping sickness which depopulated
Uganda’s population therefore between 1907 and 1912, a huge area of about 13000sq kms was
depopulated on both the northern and the southern bank of Victoria Nile. In 1910 the southern
bank was named Bunyoro game Reserve and the northern bank was named Gulu Reserve but
later in 1928, it covered about 4750sqkm. When sleeping sickness was eradicated in 1930s both
reserves were gazetted in 1952 and named them Murchison falls National park. Sir Samuel
Baker named it after Sir Roderick Murchison, president of the Royal Geographical Society. The
falls lend their name to the surrounding Murchison Falls National Park. The park is known for its
wildlife which has partly recovered from a massacre by poachers and troops under Idi Amin.
Together with the adjacent 748 square kilometers of Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 720
square kilometers of Karuma Wildlife Reserve, the park forms the Murchison Falls Conservation
Area. The park is sometimes referred to as Kabarega National Park. Kabarega was the Omukama
of the Kingdom of Bunyoro around the end of the 19th century. He resisted colonization by the
British, was arrested and was exiled to the island nation of the Seychelles. Kabarega died in
Jinja, in 1923 along the route to Bunyoro from exile. In 1972, President Idi Amin renamed
Murchison Falls, located within Murchison Falls National Park Kabalega Falls after the
Omukama of Bunyoro.
Murchison Falls is a waterfall on the Nile. It breaks the Victoria Nile, which flows across
northern Uganda from Lake Victoria to Lake Kyoga and then to the north end of Lake Albert in
the western branch of the East African Rift. At the top of Murchison Falls, the Nile forces its
way through a gap in the rocks, only 7 meters (23 ft) wide, and tumbles 43 meters (141 ft), then
flows westward into Lake Albert. The outlet of Lake Victoria sends around 300 cubic metres per
second (11,000 ft³/s) of water over the falls, squeezed into a gorge less than ten metres (30 ft)
wide. In Murchison there are four of the "big five". Buffalos, elephants, lions and leopards.
These are best seen in the northern part (above the Nile). Due to excessive hunting and poaching,
7
Rhinos became extinct by 1983, but were re-introduced into Uganda in 2005 by Rhino Fund
Uganda. White rhinos are now being bred again in the 7,000 hectares. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary,
which is located 70 kilometers, south of the park. Their mission is to reintroduce small herds of
rhinos (around five at a time), whilst retaining a nucleus breeding herd in the sanctuary
8
MAP SHOWING MURCHISON FALLS CONSERVATION AREA.
9
10
Objectives of the training
General objectives

To find out the various departments in Murchison falls national park and the work they
do.

To find out information about the other game reserves around Murchison falls national
park.

To discover challenges faced by MFNP
11
JUSTIFICATION
The information complied is set to help the researcher as a student of tourism to understand the
various contributions of the tourism industry to the social economic welfare of the Ugandan
people.
This research also aimed at discovering the relationship between the people of local communities
and protected areas. For example people living in Pakwack, Buliisa, Masindi and many others.
This research may also help in establishing major challenges faced by MFNP
12
CHAPTER TWO
Methodology
INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with the skills applied when carrying out the study. It includes Observation,
interviews, literature Review.
OBSERVATION
This involves one using eyes to view critically the subject matter.
Advantages;
It provides first hand information because what you see is what you note
It’s easier and proffered for qualitative research.
Observation method was used in analyzing some of the animal species in MFNP. These
included the following; elephants, olive baboons, Jackson’s hartebeests, water bucks, giraffes,
warthogs, lions, buffalos, and many others.
A variety of bird species such as the black kite, grass-hopper buzzard, fish eagle, vultures,
kressles, grey eagle to note but a few. Sun birds, duck species, egrets, fire finches and many
other bird species.
I also used observation method in experiencing how vehicles under poor mechanical conditions
are repaired and this was done in workshop situated a few kilometers from the park head offices.
I also observed how the day to day activities run in the park.
Interviewing;
This methodology involves an interviewer with a check list and the respondent there may be
many or one.
13
Advantages;
It’s a good method of collecting information when you get a co-operative respondent.
It helps in giving first hand information since you get facts directly from a well informed
respondent.
It helps in widening research since many questions related to the topic may be asked and
answered at the same time
I interviewed Obella Simon-Peter, Amerasebi, who gave us clear information concerning
Bugungu WR.
I also interviewed some tour guides such as MR. Thaban who gave me information about birds
species, animal species, and different types of trees in their botanical names.
I also interviewed CAM during ma registration in MFCA. He gave me the core challenges that
are faced by MFNP. Wardens of different departments, and Rangers too.
Literature review;
This involves checking on what other researchers have come up with in relation to the topic of
interest.
Advantages;
Information related to the topic of study was found in the books reviewed and this helped in
propagating the progress of the report.
I used this method by revising different books that I got from some tour guides and also those I
got from the warden tourism department’s office. From these books I got information concerning
mammals and birds of east Africa and much other information concerning MFNP.
14
CHAPTER THREE
Findings and discussions
MFCA is run and managed by several departments that all work together interdependently in
order to perfect and also reach their goal. Each department is assigned a particular activity it
performs but they end up on the same truck cause one department cannot perform perfectly in the
absence of the other. And this shows that all departments need each other at any time. The
departments include the following;

Tourism department

Community conservation department

Law enforcement department

Research and monitoring department

Finance and administration department

Oil monitoring department

Engineering department
Organ gram illustrating various departments in MFNP
15
TOURISM
Murchison Falls Protected Area is one of the Uganda’s most important tourism destination
offering a variety of activities. In order to maximize its contribution to the country’s
16
development it has been good that MFPA has diversified its tourism opportunities. Tourism
performs the following;
Game drives
These are done mostly on the northern bank of the park usually twice or more a day that’s 7am in
the morning up to evening, there even night game drives in MFNP. These usually take five hours
or more depending on the client. The game tracks include Buligi circuit, common wealth,
Queens, Victoria Nile circuit, Albert track and Pakuba track. Nyamusika Cliff is favorable for
picnics and one can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the green slopes. Your guide provides the best
routes depending on the season. Game drives are enjoyable because they expose visitors to the
flora and fauna which would not be easily discovered without one going for game drives. There
should be a trained guide to take the visitors for the game drive to explain to them the different
and new things and places the visitors will come across and to direct the driver, if at all the guide
is not the one driving. During game drives one get to see the four of the "big five". Buffalos,
elephants, lions, leopards and others like , water bucks, giraffes , hartebeests, oribis, Uganda
kobs, and many bird species including the rare shoebill and vegetation types like savannah,
riverine vegetation , wood land and swampy vegetation around the delta. Lions are also found in
the park . The charges for day game drives guides are Foreigners nonresidents 20 USD per each
guide, foreign residents $20 per guide, East African residents are charged $20 per guide. Night
game drives from 7 to11pm Foreigners or nonresident 30 USD per person, foreign residents $30
per person, East African residents are charged UGX 30,000per person
Boat ride to the bottom of falls (Murchison falls)
This takes a maximum of 3 hours to and from. Going to the bottom of falls takes 2 hours when
tourists are viewing beautiful birds and animals. Animals viewed on the way to bottom of the
falls include; Elephants, Buffalos, Crocodiles, Hypos, waterbucks and many others.
Birds viewed include, Hadada Ibis, Egyptian Geese, and African Data, Yellow Billed stork, King
Fishers and many others.
17
Boat ride to Delta (Delta trip)
Delta trip is 28km, this takes a minimum of five hours and here you will see a variety of animals
and birds. The cruise departs on special arrangements with particular clients, its best time is in
the morning 7am to mid- day. Through this trip one is able to see the delta where Victoria Nile
joins Lake Albert. There is also a spot for elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, hippos, crocodiles
and water birds which include cormorants, pelicans, Kingfishers, herons, Ducks, fish eagle,
shoebill stork can be sighted. However primates like black and white colobus monkeys, vervet
monkeys and baboons can be seen on the riverine vegetation. This is a key area for bird
watchers. Its papyrus-lined banks are bursting with birdlife where especially the most soughtafter species Shoebill is found.

Opening up new areas, i.e. For example new campsites such as Northern bank
campsite where visitors get the clear view of the Nile.

Sport fishing MFCA offers some of the finest sport fishing possibilities in the world.
And it offers sport fishing packages such as the annual sport fishing competition that
takes place on the Nile River attracting many participants every end of February.

Nature walks provides visitors with the opportunities to experience MFPA’s
landscape and wildlife at close quarters along the many nature trails both on the
northern and southern banks of the Nile and on the top of falls. This also gives
opportunity to visitors interested in birding to have a closer and clear view of birds
and interesting tree species during nature walks.

Experienced tour guides These move with tourists during game drives and also
nature walks. These are well equipped with knowledge that is required by tourists and
this makes tourists to get satisfied which helps in word of mouth advertisement when
they return to their home countries hence promoting tourism in Uganda. species,
animal species and many other things.
Bush camping.
Bush camping is divided into two types of campsites namely;

Wilderness campsites. These don’t have any constructed shelter and with no toilets. They
are the most expensive ones.
18

Public campsites. These have constructed shelter with toilets too. They are cheaper than
those of wilderness.
There are designated sites for camping in the park. Camping involves setting up camp fire and
experience the wilderness. Nature walk at that night can also be done in order to see nocturnal
animals a game drive of about one hour may be taken while food is getting ready by the person
hired. While taking dinner, tourists enjoy their stories as they take their dinner. They also get to
know the history of the park and any other information concerning the park.
Hiking
This activity can be experienced at the falls from the top to bottom. The activity allows visitors
to experience the nature and enjoy the beauty of the falls as it explodes though the narrow gorge.
One can experience the top of the falls via a boat and hikers alight the drop off point through the
nature trail.
Accommodation facilities
These include lodges that are located in different parts of the park offering accommodation and
other hospitality services to tourists. Some of these are managed by concessionaires and they
include;
Paraa safari lodge
Sambiya river lodge
Chobe safari lodge
Red chilli camp
Murchison river lodge
2. COMMUNITY CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
This department deals with the coordination of the PAs and the local community and it plays the
role of bridging the gap between the community and the wildlife management authority. It is the
19
role of this department to ensure that community is sensitized about the importance of wildlife so
that the animals are not put in danger.
This department also ensures that PAs are not encroached by the local communities as well as
sensitizing the communities on values / benefits of the park to the people
Knowing that existence of the park contributes to some of the major economic challenges to the
farmers, it’s the department’s role to build relations and address the conflicts. This can be done
through interventions that cause change in the socio economic development.
This department further deals with the following activities:
Minimize human-wildlife conflict through various interventions as indicated below:

Deploy staff to carryout scare shooting.

Conduct talk shows on radio stations about PA controls and ways to address such
problems.

Training communities (resource use groups in integrated problem animal control methods
for example, beehives, chili, deterrent, awareness; tree planting, saving, etc.

Establish nursery and encourage buffer crop planting.

Purchase live traps and other equipment.

Excavation of trenches as barriers

Hold meetings with the local leaders to make them appreciate and support conservation
operations.
Another role of the community conservation department is to encourage the existence of wildlife
outside the Pas through sensitization of land/ ranch owners to live with wildlife in their land
thereby allowing coexistence and meaningful utilization through legalized means under the
wildlife user right program that would fetch the land owner more revenue other than allowing
local hunters to hunt without meaningful benefit.
Supporting community development groups through:
Holding resource use meeting.
20
Train resource users in sustainable harvesting principles of the protected area resources.
Revenue sharing fund disbursed to beneficiaries and projects monitored.
Through supporting the local communities to identify and develop sustainable projects proposals
for funding.
Monitoring the implementation of revenue sharing projects and compliance with the proposals.
Conducting school conservation education programs through creating environment and wildlife
conservation competition/quiz and reward best pupils.
Support local leaders to encourage them to appreciate conservation.
Participate in public function to improve UWA’s corporate image and public relations for
example environment day, National resistance Movement anniversary.
Increase conservation education in communities surrounding the PA’s through carrying out
conservation awareness in villages adjacent to the PA’s.
3. RESEARCH AND MONITORING DEPARTMENT.
This department deals mainly with monitoring of wildlife populations, weather and general
ecosystem sensitivity/ health. Within their scope is the disease monitoring and surveillance
where by injured animals are rescued and treated. I was able to witness and participate in the
rescue and treatment process which involved the removal of wire snare from a wounded buffalo,
elephant and administer treatment that involved the use of a dart gun before treating.
It is also this department which deals with the translocation of animals from one part of park to
another. This is done by darting the animals before starting any operation on them since they can
be dangerous if not darted.
It is also the duty of research and monitoring team to ensure that various species of plants
(floras) are preserved within the park.
21
on a routine basis ecological and weather data has to be collected to help various users interpret
the changes using various parameter that could have been set and other stakeholders such as
researchers. this is done with the help of the weather monitoring apparatus such as rain gauge
installed at various stations; use of GPS and conducting animal census in the entire park. This
data is later analyzed through computers for management use. Using various computer programs.
This department also handles activities such as:

emergence health and rescue operation.
Responding to emergency health and rescuing the sick animals. samples are collected
from sick and dead animals for further examination and analysis of possible causes of
death. Dead animals are then disposed off safely to control spread of diseases.
Department must procure health intervention equipment and drugs for these animals.

Monitoring the climatic and weather variations in the park.
These are done by collecting weather data and maintain weather stations at designated
sites in the park for example. At the headquarter in Mubako, Pakuba airfield, Tangi
gate and
where weather monitoring Equipment are installed. The data collected is
analysed and shared with other stakeholders. this data can help the department to
detect any environment data basing on data analyzed.
Managing the waste disposal mechanisms. Generated waste at various centers staff
accommodation line tourist camps and disposing them off. This is done by procuring
the equipment for waste management.

Monitoring the population and ranging patterns of the key wildlife species in the park
through carrying out land surveys for large carnivores such as lions and hyenas and
collecting and analyzing routine data marine patrols
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Murchison Falls PA comprises of
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, Karuma Wildlife Reserve,
Murchison Falls National Park covering 5072 sq km. Each PA has its own staff but operationally
report to CAM of MFPA/MFCA. General administration is run by the office of CAM supported
by the accountant department who ensure that the human resource is well motivated and general
operations are financed.
There are various departments which are run by wardens as attached in the organization.
22
Revenue collection and financial management :
Until 1998, MFPA directly used its own revenue for its operations during UWA’s time of
financial crisis, this helped to save the PA’s from crumbling, however with coming of new
financial guidelines, all revenue generated from the PA was then submitted to UWA head quarter
from where operational funding are planned for centrally and disbursed to the conservation areas
for implementation. Based on the 10 year general management plan each protected area develops
an annual operations plan (AOP) every financial year.
Financial efficiency of MFPA depends on the following:

Efficient collection of revenue and submissions of returns to UWA headquarters.

Effective preparation and implementation of annual operation plan budgets which
indicate the activities and accountability of expenditure for the running quarters.

Accountability and financial tracking
MFPA follows all financial procedures and systems as laid down by the organization’s financial
services department to ensure effective financial management and control.
These financial procedures include:Payments and procurements, collection and receipting of income, petty cash, staff advances and
imprest, cash management, budgeting and budgetary controls, fixed assets, stocks, payroll,
technical accounting and monthly and annual procedures.
Revenue generation in MFNP
The main revenue from the Park is derived from activities within the national park. These
sources are as follows:Tourism activities; accommodation; camping; resource extraction and research fees; landing and
ferry crossing. All this revenue is banked upon collection and the analysis is done at the end of
the month to determine the monthly collections, the community revenue share (20%) and the
VAT.
23
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
This department is headed by senior warden Engineering.
This department is divided in to two parts i.e.

Civil engineering

Mechanical engineering
Civil engineering
The maintenance and construction of all the management buildings in MFPA is handled by the
unit of technical service department. The following are the activities that are handled by this
department.

Develop and maintain road through carrying out routine inspection, procuring tools
for road works, installation of culverts, grading the roads, spot gravelling and others.

Maintenance of air strip in the national park by slashing and maintenance, hanger
structures and run away edge makers.

Repairs and maintenance of buildings for instance maintenance of staff blocks,
routine maintenance of guest houses, general renovation of staff houses routine
replacement of faulty electrical fittings.

Maintenance of ferry landing and other crossings for example maintenance of bridges
and other crossings, maintenance of jetties etc.
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering department handles all the equipment and machines of the organization
and these machines include the following:-
24

Various types of vehicles like Lorries, pick-ups, 4-wheel-drive cars, motorbikes.

Plant like tractors, grass cutters, graders, and other road maintenance machinery.

Marine units like ferry, tourist launches, patrol boats and out board engine and other
power engines like workshop machinery, water pumps, generators and auxiliary
devices (work shop tools, bulk fuel tank and others)
These machines are maintained well using preventive measures i.e., machinery operators are
instructed on the kinds of machinery they use and drivers ensure that vehicle are not loaded
beyond the manufacture’s indicated capacity and using log books.
Each item has its own log sheet/service book in which usage and service events are recorded and
the log books are regularly counter checked to ensure the establishment and implementation of a
well-planned service schedule, safety and monitor usage of fuel.
Stock keeping:
All procured Spares and consumables are stored securely entered in a register (file cards or
computerized) kept off to enable management plan and monitor flow and shortages. These
include fuel, servicing fluids, routine replacement parts) used to replenish the worn out parts.
The storekeeper must inform his supervisor of his stock flow in good time before they are
exhausted.
6 . OIL MONITORING DEPARTMENT.
Oil is any neutral, non polar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures,
and is immiscible with water but soluble in alcohols or ethers Oils have a high carbon and
hydrogen content and are usually flammable and slippery. Oils may be animal, vegetable,
or petrochemical in origin, and may be volatile or non-volatile. Natural oils are commonly
25
known as hydro carbons because it consists of majorly hydrogen and carbons and some
percentages of impurities.
Oil and gas activities in Murchison falls involves the following procedure




Survey: Aeromagnetic survey, 2D/3D seismic survey
Drilling: Exploration drilling and Appraisal drilling
Restoration: Pad restoration and Access road restoration
Waste management
All the above activities are monitored and carried out by oil Company employees, National
environmental management Authority (NEMA) Petroleum Exploration Production Department,
(PEPD) and UWA in the park and surrounding community to ensure minimal damage to
environment.
7. LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT
This is the biggest department in the organization and it is headed by the Warden Law
Enforcement whose main role is to ensure that the security within the PAs is kept and illegal
activities within the park is reduced; this is achieved through conducting the following activities.
Patrols.
To combat illegal activities, patrols are done throughout the park. Patrols can be inform of
extended land patrols, ambush /round patrols, marine patrols as well as occasional air patrol by
the use of small aircraft. These patrols are directed in areas where there are some hot spot i.e.
areas where the rate of illegal activities are high. These illegal activities can involve the
following: Wire snares, illegal hunting, cattle grazing in the PA’s, timber cutting, charcoal
burning, and others. These areas need regular patrols and checks to cub the illegal activities.
Activities carried out in law enforcement include the following;
To ensure security in protected areas and to the following;

Visitors who come as tourists in the park,

Staff members working in the park,

Properties of the park such as fire arms and many others.
The department also carries out other activities in the park that include the following;
26

Reducing illegal entry in the park through patrols

Monitoring wildlife healthy through patrols

Collecting data used in guiding management in decision making for example data on
illegal activities, persons arrested, dead animals, fire outbreak.

Providing guiding information to visitors from rangers

Participate in problem animal control management

Ensure safety in wildlife outside the protected area.

Fight poaching in the park. Poaching in done using dangerous weapons such as wire
snares, ground metals and many others.
Planning patrols is based on the following

Intelligence report for example on rangers who enter the park, what they use, etc.

Information from the patrols carried out before.

Area coverage. This is to ensure that every area is covered
Types of patrols carried out include the following

Land patrols. This is done on land by moving long suspected areas while footing to find
poachers and also to remove wire snares that are put by poachers.

Extended overnight patrols. these take 3-4-5-6 days after which a report is written.

Marine patrols. These are carried out on and around water for example around river nile.
The main aim is to capture fish poachers.

Ambush. This is where suspected people are ambushed. For example people suspected to
kill an animal and may be with animal’s meat.

Round patrol

Map showing Hot spots for poaching in MFPA
27
Sources of funds for the organization:
28
The following are the sources of fund for MFNP/PA
Guiding fees
Chimp tracking
Bird hike/ watching
Protected Area entrance fees payable by tourists to the parks (People and vehicles).
Boat/launch takings.
Ferry crossing.
Nature walks.
Camping fees
A table showing entry fees per vehicle/boat per visit
Foreign registered (US$)
Uganda registered(Uhs)
Motor-cycles
30
10,000
Saloon cars
50
20,000
Minibuses, Omni-buses (private
100
30,000
Pick-ups and 4-WD cars (private)
150
30,000
Tour company vehicles
100
30,000
Busses and lorries
150
150,000
Boats up to 15 seater (private)
50
50,000
Launches-15 and above seater
100
150,000
(private)
A table showing ferry crossing fees per vehicle, passengers and drivers
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Price for scheduled crossing one way for transit
Vehicle type
vehicles and one day for visitors resident in the park.
Light vehicles less than 2 tones (saloon cars,
4WD’s mini-buses, pick-ups)
UShs 20,000
Medium vehicles 2 to 5 tones (pick-ups, small
lorries, and omni-buses)
UShs40,000
Heavey vehicles over 5 to 10 tones (buses and
lorries)
UShs 80,000
Heavey vehicles10 to 20 tonnnes
Ushs 150,000
Passenger and drivers
UShs 2000
A table showing Aircraft and helicopter landing fees per landing
Aircraft
Uganda registered
Foreign registered
UShs
US $
Gliders, Micro-lights
20,000
10
Up to 3 seater
40,000
20
4-6 seater
60,000
30
7-14 seater
80,000
40
15-20 seater
100,000
50
21 seats and above
120,000
60
$100
50
helicopters
Parking fee UShs 5000 per
day
Landing fee excludes entry fees payable by passengers. Pilots en-route do not pay entry fees, if
they stay for less than 2 hours within the park.
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A table showing camping and campsites fees
TYPE
RATE
Category A (wilderness camping) Maximum US$ 40 per person per night (minimum charge
16 persons
Category
$ 120)
B
(private-
advance
booking): US$ 30 per person per night (minimum charge
maximum 20 persons (includes workers)- $ 100)
workers do not pay
Category C (public): (with) pit latrine/fire UShs 15,000 per person per night (maximum
wood/ rubbish pit/ water /thatched shelter
charge shs 45,000)
Table showing Entrance fees.
National Parks
FNR
FR
EAC
US Dollars
USD
SHs
Adult
40
30
15000
Children
20
10
5000
Students
2500=
GENERAL CHALLENGES FACING MFNP
Poaching. This refers to illegal killing of animals from the park and protected areas. This is the
biggest challenge faced in MFPA.
Poaching is mostly done by people of the neighboring communities who kill animals. for
example buffalos, heart beasts, water backs, cobs, hippos and many other animals. There is also
fish poaching where people from the neighboring communities illegally fish from River Nile.
There are also external poachers who come from long distances for poaching. Most of the these
deal in ivory from elephants.
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These poachers use different weapons to carry out poaching. For example most of the local
poachers use wire snares and ground metals to kill animals. External poachers who deal in ivory,
mostly use guns to do poaching.
MFNP NUMBER OF SUSPECTS 2011-2013
2011
No. of
suspects
243
2012
203
2013
138
District
MSD 54
BLS
60
NWO 46
NBB 83
MSD 20
BLS 62
NWO 48
NBB 73
MSD 14
BLS 28
NWO 49
NBB 46
ZOMB01
Convic
tion
221
Dismissed
Police
bond
NIL
pending
07
Cautioned
& released
15
188
01
08
11
NIL
116
01
11
03
07
NIL
Problem animals. These are animals that move beyond the boundaries of the park and destroy
peoples’ properties for example elephants. Others kill people from the neighboring communities
and feed on them for example crocodiles and yet compensation for the losses is not forth coming.
Population pressure on protected areas. This is as a result of highly increasing population in
the neighboring communities. This makes people of the neighboring community to encroach on
land for the park.
Changing vegetation. this is mostly seen in the southern bank. Southern side has turned to
savannah woodland which is not good for most of the animals. This was caused by reduction in
the number of elephants that were killed during Kony civil war
Political influence. This comes in most especially when poachers are caught. Political leaders
rise up for the release of these suspects which plays a greater role in promoting poaching a
greater challenge in park management.
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Influstracture. (Toilets, roads) some of the toilets most especially on the landing site are not to a
standard. Some roads have also taken long without being repaired. For example a road going to
Bugungu WR
Marketing domestic tourism. For example most of the tourists who come to MFNP come from
abroad. Ugandans don’t tour and this is because prices are too high for them
Skills (guiding skills) some tour guides have not studied enough and they lack good guiding
skills. Some also face language barrier problem making them not to satisfy visitors they handle.
This makes them returning unsatisfied tourists hence leading to a decline in market.
Limited man-power. This is because Rangers are not enough compared to the size of the park.
Un planned Bush fires by poachers. These target animals to enter their traps.
Logging. This is where people from neighboring communities enter the park for timber hence
disorganizing habitats for animals and birds.
OIL EXPLORATION IS ITSELF A CHALLENGE TO THE PARK IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS;
Destruction of habitat, this happens during the creation of the oil pads and the access roads that
connects the oil pad from the main roads hence the clearance of large chunks of land that were
habitats for reptiles such as snakes and birds with insects inclusive.
Killing of wildlife, speeding big trucks and Lorries belonging to the oil company kill small and
slow moving animals such as the chameleons and some other crawling insects and snakes while
on the road.
Interference of animal breeding patterns. Some oil pads are located in kob lekking grounds
and this ends up interfering with their mating and therefore their population ends up remaining
stagnant.
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Some animals are very sensitive to vibrations e.g. elephants. The vibration come from the
seismic survey explosives which are buried 6m deep in the ground that gets detonated and shakes
the ground. This vibration causes disturbance to the animals.
Impact on air quality. Dusts are generated on the tourism roads meant for game drives as a
result of heavy traffic from the oil company vehicles that affect the air quality breathed in by the
tourists. Smokes from the heavy machines such as the generators and the trucks also do affect the
air quality within the park.
Noise generated from the rigs and heavy trucks as they go on their daily operations within the
national park.
Visual intrusion, the big and tall rigs that stand in the park and the off track vehicles for the 3D
seismic survey always do create a bad visual impression to the tourists who go for game drives
and this creates negative attitudes toward the oil and gas activities inside the national park.
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION AND REFERANCES
RECOMENDATIONS.

I recommend UWA to construct better accommodation facilities for its employees (tour guides)
to improve on their standards of living.

UWA should also rise on qualification levels for its employees. This will help to reduce on unskilled services rendered to clients by un-skilled employees.

I also recommend the park authorities to strengthen employee’s representative unit. This will help
to strongly forward problems faced by employees for smooth running of park activities

I also recommend UWA to set domestic prices in tourism. This will help to promote domestic
tourism in Uganda and also increase on earnings to UWA.

I also recommend UWA to improvise advanced means of dealing with poachers for example the
use of cameras.\

I recommend UWA to also find better ways of reducing on the rate at which oil vehicles are
spoiling animal habitats

I also Recommend UWA to avoid political interventions in its activities at all
CONCLUSION;
In conclusion, the time I’ve spent in MFNP, I’ve been able to know how clients are handled in the
field, how clients do booking for every activity they want to engage in, how to protect myself from
problem animals while in the field, ways of making accountability and all the advantages of
conserving wildlife and indeed I conclude by saying we should conserve for generations.
REFERENCES;

UWA conservation fees July 2011- June 2013

Field guide to the birds of East Africa Kenya Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Burundi by Terry
Stevenson and Fanshawe

The behavior guide to African mammals by Richard Despard Estes.
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NKUMBA UNIVERSITY
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING REPORT FOR UGANDA WILDLIFE
AUTHORITY (MURCHISON FALLS CONSERVATION AREA)
BY AMANYA AMON
2011-AUG-BTM-B9358-DAY
A REPORT SUBMITTED TO NKUMBA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SCIENCES IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A BACHELORS DEGREE
IN TOURISM OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
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