In April 2020, all the ten Uganda national parks and other protected areas were closed following the outbreak of the global pandemic disease, Covid-19 (Corona virus) that had took the entire world by storm. Meanwhile, the disease is gradually waning out and some businesses in Uganda were allowed to operate again after a temporary closure in March 21st 2020.
Yesterday, on the 5th/June/2020, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) issued a public statement informing the wildlife enthusiasts about the partial opening of Uganda national parks. In the public statement, UWA informed the wildlife enthusiasts that all the savannah Parks were re-opened but that the primate Parks are still closed for the moment, since primates are more susceptible to the corona virus.
UWA explained why it decided to reopen the savannah parks stating that it did so after consultations with various stakeholders and putting place standard operating procedures for the containment of possible spread covid-19 in its protected areas.
UWA also informed the public that its headquarters in Kampala, Kamwokya, open to the public who require any of its services.
Meanwhile, UWA stated that all tourism activities within the protected areas shall be undertaken in a manner that ensures all guidelines by the Ministry of Health and the directives by His Excellency the President of Uganda – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are adhered to.
Below are some of them but not limited to (revealed by UWA):
– Mandatory temperature screening using non-contact infra-red thermometers at the key tourism gates of different protected areas.
– Mandatory hand washing / sanitizing at the entrances of all UWA premises and protected areas.
– Government guidelines of carrying half capacity in order to observe social distance shall apply to the use of vehicles and boats in the parks. These include concessionaire delivery vehicles.
– Saloon car vehicles shall not be permitted to carry out game drives activities in the protected areas.
– Large group exceeding 25 people shall not be permitted in the parks at the same time for same activities.
– Events such as destination weddings shall not be permitted in the interim.
– Visitors going to the parks are encouraged to carry their own hand sanitizers and facemasks.
UWA also confirmed that it has trained its staff and provided them with appropriate wear to protect them and the visitors from any possible infection.
What are the Savannah Parks?
Talking of the savannah parks are simply these parks which protect more of mammals like lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos and others, for example these include Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo, Semuliki, Rwenzori Mountains, and Mount Elgon National Parks. The other savannah protected areas include Pian Upe game reserve, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and others.
What are the Primate Parks?
Talking of the primate parks these include Bwindi Impenetrable, Kibale Forests, and Mgahinga National Parks which are well-known homes of primates including the two world’s great apes – mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, which share almost 98% of human DNA and are susceptible to most of human infections. Sharing almost the same DNA with humans is the major factor as to why these parks are still closed – as they are safeguarding these precious creatures.