Project Progess

Progress since project inception to date (August 2021)

  • Engaged all stakeholders at community, sub-county, district and national level
  • Ten Community Conservation Committees (4 Pallisa, 4 Ngora and 2 Kumi) established in 14 fishing villages and trained.
  • Key biodiversity hotspots such as birds (crested crane) nesting places and fish breeding and nursery grounds, animal grazing lands, agricultural farm lands, sand mining areas, and cultural sites were identified, besides the key spots for reptiles and mammals including (crocodiles, hippopotamus).
  • Baseline information on diversity, abundance, spatial distribution of fish, birds, reptiles, mammal and amphibians in the Lake Nyaguo catchment was also established.
  • An assessment of the possible alternative livelihood options was undertaken and the proposals include; Aquaculture and dams for watering animals was (Ngora district); small scale businesses, and provision of legal fishing gears e.g. gillnets (Pallisa district), and provision of education services like books and other equipment to the schools within the project vicinity.

  • Management Plan developed in consultation with national, district and community stakeholders through focus group discussions and key informant interviews.
  • Stakeholder mapping: Key stakeholder institutions to the project objectives were identified and mapped and they include: NEMA, UWA, DiFR, MWE-WMD, academia (Kumi and Busitema Universities), Local Governments of Kumi, Ngora and Pallisa districts, and NGOs.
  • Identified Primary resources users including; fishers, crop farmers, livestock grazers, papyrus harvesters, domestic water users etc, the politicians, religious leaders, Opinion Leaders, Village Council and NGOs and government programs like NUSAF, Vision Teso Rural Development Organization (TERUDO) and OPW.
  • Procured one boat and its accessories, yet to be delivered to the project area
  • Received support letters at community, subcounty and district level.


    • ONGOING PROJECT ACTIVITIES

  • Training of CCCs on how to patrol, manage and protect the community conservation area.
  • Develop content and Install signage in the newly created community conservation area
  • Official signing of the management plan and hand over of the project boat to the boat user committee.
  • Approval ceremony of the management plan by the three districts
  • Demarcation and designation of community conservation areas.
  • Forward support letters and management plan to UWA and Minister for gazettement of a CCA.
  • Engage UWA and the Parliamentary Committee of Natural Resources and minister for tourism, wildlife and antiquities.


    • CHALLENGES DURING PROJECT IMPLEMEMTATION

  • COVID-19 has affected the implementation of project activities and milestones due to the restrictions on inter-district movements, public gatherings of more than 20 people and working from home. The project team however has resorted to working remotely and adopted zoom meetings for planning and review meetings.
  • Inadequate funds to facilitate unforeseen engagements i.e. engagement of political stakeholders both at National, district and sub-county level in order to obtain support for creation of Lake Nyaguo community conservation area.
  • Inadequate political support and will especially by the sub-county officials and the area members of parliament is still a challenge.