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Our Background

  • The Uganda Wildlife Training Institute (UWTI) traces its origin from 1991 when the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) implemented project and initiated a certificate course for Uganda National Parks (UNP) and Game Department (GD) meant to cater for the middle level technical positions (Supervisory management).
  • As a result of the formulation of the Wildlife Policy (1994) and subsequent enactment of the Wildlife Statute in 1996, UNP and GD were merged to form the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). In the same year, Government of Uganda formulated the UWTI statute 1996 which formally established the UWTI as a-semi-autonomous institute under the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) to train for the sector; however, for the greater part the Institute initially concentrated on training middle level staff for UWA.
  • From inception of the Institute in 1991 up to 1996 most academic staff were employees of the then Uganda National Parks and Game Department. After the merger of the two institutions, the Institute had to recruit its own staff. Many of these were recruited on part-time or temporary basis, a situation that tended to grossly undermine continuity of programmes.
  • The Institute together with other departmental training institutions was transferred to the Ministry of Education and Sports in 1998 to bring them into purview with new education policies. Consequently, the Ministry of Education and Sports through the Education Service Commission appointed academic staff to implement the training. Unfortunately, most of the academic staff was not adequately equipped with the skills and exposure to wildlife management. In addition, the Institute’s curriculum was developed in 1996 yet wildlife issues are so dynamic that it no longer adequately provides for the training needs of the wildlife sector.
  • Two studies were carried out with a view of strengthening the Institute: The Feasibility Study and Planning for the Uganda Wildlife training Institute (2001), and the Restructuring for the Uganda Wildlife training Institute (2004). The feasibility study and planning report recommended inter alia bringing UWTI and conservation and research institutions closer together in planning and implementing training in order to strengthen capacity. The Restructuring Report for the Uganda Wildlife Training Institute (2004) made recommendations for a new mandate, vision and mission.
  • Following the recommendation of the Presidential Investors Round Table, and subsequent directive from the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, the institute was returned to the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry (MTTI) in December 2008. The mandate of UWTI has been reviewed by UWRTI act, 2015 to transform the institute into a national wildlife research and training institute.