Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has issued a press release indicating that it has closed the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary due to the ongoing wrangles between Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch (ZRWR) and Rhino Fund Uganda(RFU).
In the press release posted on April 20, 2021 by UWA communications Manager Bashir Hangi says that with UWA’s mandate to protect all the wildlife resources across the country as per Uganda wildlife Act 2019, it takes control of the security of the rhinos at Ziwa rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola district with an intention of safeguarding the rhinos.
It further states that with immediate effect, it has closed the Ziwa rhino sanctuary and no tourism activities shall take place until further notice.
It also gives reasons as to why it has taken the closure stand. The closure has come as a result of constant and prolonged altercation between Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches (ZRWR), the custodians of the land where the rhinos inhabit and Rhino fund Uganda (RFU), an NGO taking on the duties of managing the rhinos at the sanctuary.
Uganda Wildlife Authority anticipated that the feud between the two grieving parties could antagonise the safety of the rhino and made a decision to halt the possible danger. Henceforth the periodical closure of the sanctuary being measure as the Uganda government intervenes to see the two parties work together harmoniously again for the good of the rhinos.
Uganda wildlife authority also stresses out that it is not part of the conflict between Ziwa Rhino and wildlife Ranches and Rhino Fund Uganda. It remains neutral in this all heated tension but it is there as its mandate instructs it to protect the wildlife resources of Uganda which the rhinos are part of.
