MORE FUNDS FOR PARK NEIGHBOURS
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has over the weekend handed out nearly 300 million Uganda Shillings to representatives of six districts neighbouring the Queen Elizabeth National Park as part of the legally mandated 20 percent community share of gate receipts recorded.
The funds can be used by communities to pay for such projects which improve the lives of residents near parks, like water and sanitation projects but also health centres and educational facilities, so that benefits from wildlife based tourism can actually reach those often neglected by the major money flows tourism generates for businesses but rarely for the people.
District representatives expressed the thanks from villagers who have in the past benefited from the scheme and also from those who will now see improvements to their daily lives, sentiments gladly echoed here as praise once again is due for UWA and their intense community relations.
