SAM MWANDHA TAKES OFFICE AT UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY
(Posted 26th March 2018)
(From left Mr. Sam Mwandha and Dr. Andrew Seguya on the right)
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) earlier today welcomed the new Executive Director Mr. Samuel John Mwandha who received the tools of office from the outgoing Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ggunga Seguya. The handover ceremony was held at the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters witnessed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Ms Doreen Katusiime, members of UWA Board of Trustees and UWA top management staff. While handing over office, Dr. Andrew Seguya expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees for the opportunity offered to him to serve at the helm of UWA and welcomed his successor Samuel Mwandha. “I welcome you to UWA, I hope you take forward and sustain the self evident achievements registered during my tenure in order for the organization to achieve greater success‘.
Mwandha in turn expressed his pleasure for returning to UWA and pledged to uphold UWA’s core values. “If we are committed to conservation, have team work, customer care and quality service, integrity and professionalism, we shall definitely deliver with God’s grace” he said.
He called on the Ministry and the Board of Trustees to always offer their much needed guidance so that UWA delivers on its mandate.
The Permanent Secretary observed that being the first handover of its kind in the history of the UWA, the organization has grown. “It is the first time to have a smooth transition from one Executive Director to another, a sign that UWA had grown over the bad times of its past. I wish to thank Dr. Seguya for the stewardship characterized by innovative ideas and strategic thinking,” she said. She welcomed the new Executive Director and urged him to continue with the innovations, building a credible team and focusing more on research and gathering and disseminating credible wildlife conservation information.
The Chairman of the UWA Board of Trustees, Mr. Benjamin Otto, also hailed Dr. Andrew Seguya for turning around the erstwhile failed organization to functional and self sufficient one.
Dr. Andrew Seguya was the longest serving Executive Director of UWA having assumed office towards the end of 2010. During the past seven year of his stewardship, over 1000 accommodation units for staff, new office structures and attendant facilities for tourists have been constructed. Laboratories for animal health investigations and new student centres were also put in place. He oversaw the creation of new elite units of intelligence and canine units and improved the welfare of staff among others.
Mr. Mwandha previously worked with UWA growing through the ranks to the position of Director Field Operations. He served as the Executive Secretary of Great Virunga Transboundary Secretariat and later Country Director at African Wildlife Foundation. He carries with him a wealth of experience in both conservation and management as the new chief custodian of wildlife conservation in Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is a semi-autonomous government agency mandated conserve and manage Uganda’s wildlife for the people of Uganda and the whole world. UWA manages 10 National Parks and 12 wildlife reserves under its jurisdiction.
It also manages five community wildlife management areas and 13 wildlife sanctuaries.
For a related article click on the link below:
https://atcnews.org/2018/02/16/change-at-the-helm-of-the-uganda-wildlife-authority/
