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UGANDA WILDLIFE SOCIETY
Plot 1521 Mawanda Road, Kamwokya P.O. Box 7422, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-41-530891 Fax: 256-41-530264 E-mail: uws@uws.or.ug
Draft Minutes of Uganda Wildlife Society Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Held on Friday 22, February 2013 at Hotel Africana Starting at 2.30PM
MEMBERS PRESENT
In all, 109 people attended the AGM events. The list of names and contact details, including the
executive committee 2010-2012, the ex-officio member of this committee and all members and
non members of Uganda Wildlife Society who attended the pre-AGM and AGM events of 2013 is
appended at the end of this report.
AGENDA
1. Policy Dialogue: How Best Can Uganda’s Wildlife and, Communities Adjacent to
Protected Areas Co-Exist in Harmony?
2. Prayer
3. Communication from the Chair
4. Annual General Meeting Agenda Review and Adoption
5. Review of Minutes of the Previous–2012 Annual General Meeting and Matters arising
6. Chairman’s report (activity 2012 and work plan 2013) to the AGM
7. Treasurers’ Financial (2012) report and 2013 projection
8. AGM Adoption of 2013Work Plan
9. Discussion and resolution on constitutional amendments
10. Any Other Business and AGM closing Remarks

Minute 1 AGM 2013/1. How Best Can Uganda’s Wildlife and, Communities Adjacent to
Protected Areas Co-Exist in Harmony?
Dr. John Makombo, Director of Conservation at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the key
speaker on the day’s theme began his talk by giving a background on Wildlife Conservation
legislation in Uganda establishing Game department in the 1920s, Gazetting of National Parks in
the 1950s and, the Uganda Wildlife Authority in 1996, adding that the latter currently manages
ten National Parks and twelve Wildlife Reserves. Dr. Makombo said Wildlife Protected Areas
(PA) cover 11% of Uganda’s total area but UWA estates hold only about 50% of the country’s
Wildlife and these include four RAMSAR sites, three Man and Biosphere reserves and one site in
provisional world heritage list. Uganda is a convergence zone for five of Africa’s important
Ecological Zones, the country is also home to 53% of the World’s Mountain Gorillas (with
Bwindi alone being home to 400 individuals), 10% of the World’s and within Africa 50% and in
East Africa 72% of Birdlife is found here he said. Dr. Makombo further mentioned that 7% of
Global and within Africa 39% of Mammal species diversity are found in Uganda, adding that the
country is also home to 19% of Africa’s Amphibians and 14% of her Reptile diversity.
Following the background, Dr. Makombo went on to highlight the importance of Wildlife to
Uganda mentioning among others that Wildlife (Crested Crane and Uganda Kob) appear in the
Country’s Court of Arms. Adding that Uganda is the only country with substantial glacier held
in mountains at the Equator. He said Wildlife contributes up to 9.2% of the Uganda’s GDP,
adding that the country’s water resources support power generation, fisheries and even domestic
water needs. The Pas support education, science and research (giving examples like Makerere
University Biological Field Station in Kibaale and ITFC in Bwindi), protect against disasters like
landslides, climate modification, soil erosion and are reservoirs for medicinal and food. The Pas
also are important historical and cultural sites including for archeology, they support agriculture
and help in vectors, pests and disease control. They are important for aesthetics and also provide
employment Dr. Makombo said.
Dr. Makombo said the need for wildlife – human co-existence is important and arise among
others from, the fact that there are more wildlife outside PAs than inside, the increasing
population of Uganda which means more land resource need and thus the increasing

encroachment in PAs, clearance of wildlife corridors and poaching by communities. These
activities have consequently led to increased wildlife attack on communities and even diseases
spread between wildlife and livestock Dr. Makombo said. These problems he further
acknowledged underpin the need for management strategies to secure harmonious wildlife-human
co-existence and to address this need UWA has come up with a number of strategies, he said. One
of the strategies is collaborative management. The Authority deems collaborative management
will yield protection for communities and wildlife outside PAs and, money for economic
development (user rights – entailing sport hunting, farming, trade, and revenue sharing for
examples). The Authority controls problem animals using a number of approaches for example,
trenches, scare shooting, capture and translocation, vermin elimination, barriers and staff training
Dr. Makombo said. Adding that, UWA additionally endeavors to employ local communities,
implement livelihood projects at household level, promote ecotourism and is educating and
raising awareness among communities so as to change their attitude change and inculcate in them
tolerance and appreciation of wildlife.
Concluding his talk, Dr. Makombo recognized other players now helping UWA and the
Government of Uganda to realize human-wildlife harmonious co-existence. He mentioned Local
Governments, IGCP, CARE, WWF, WCS, FFI, CTPH, MGVP, UNESCO, AWF, IFAW, WB
and, ERECP/EAC and the other players- private sector including hoteliers, lodge owners, tour
operators and civil society like UWS, security agencies (UPDF, Policy and Interpol), LATF and
the Judiciary.

Dr. John Makombo, Director of Conservation, Uganda Wildlife Authority giving his presentation
at the Uganda Wildlife Society Public Policy Dialogue held on the 22 nd of February 2013 at
Hotel Africana. The theme of the dialogue was ‘how Best Can Uganda’s Wildlife and,
Communities Adjacent to Protected Areas Co-Exist in Harmony’?
Dr. Makombo’s presentation was followed by a documentary and summary presentation from
Uganda Wildlife Society Experiences and lessons from working with communities adjacent to
Lake Albert, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the Murchison Falls National Park in Buliisa District
in the Albertine Rift – Oil Region. Summarizing experiences and lessons learned from working
with PAS adjacent communities, Mr. Joel Buyinza the UWS Ecosystems Alliance Project Officer
based in Buliisa mentioned that communities say they want to
1. Collect Grass for thatching houses and for making hey for the livestock
2. Collect Firewood for household fuel use
3. Access to Fishing grounds in Murchison Falls National Park
4. Harvest Papyrus for hand craft making from the wetlands in Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
5. Plant trees along buffer zones of Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
6. Keep Bees along the buffer zone of Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and,
7. Harvest building poles from the PAS

Joel said simple things like those will go long way into providing the incentives communities
need in order to actively support and participate in PAs management. He went ahead and
presented five resource (resources encompassing the listed above) access MOUs the communities
drafted with facilitation from UWS using funds the Royal Dutch-Netherland Government gave
the Society through, Ecosystems Alliance (Wetlands International, BothEnds and IUCN-NL).
The Society is now in dialogue and is advocating with UWA to ascent to, sign and adopt these
resource access MOUs, and implement them among its collaborative management strategies for
engaging communities in PAS conservation.
Mr. Joel Buyinza, the UWS Buliisa Based Project Officer – Ecosystems Alliance presenting a
summary- Uganda Wildlife Society Experiences and Lessons from Working with Communities
adjacent to Lake Albert, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the Murchison Falls National Park in
Buliisa District in the Albertine Rift – Oil Region. This was during the Uganda Wildlife Society
Public Policy Dialogue themed ‘how Best Can Uganda’s Wildlife and, Communities Adjacent to
Protected Areas Co-Exist in Harmony’? Funded by the Royal Dutch Government through
Ecosystems Alliance (Wetlands International, BothEnds and IUCN-NL), this dialogue took place
at Hotel Africana on the 22 nd of February 2013.

Discussing Dr. Makombo and Joel’s presentation, the audience among others raised the need for
1. UWA and UWS to show how women and the youth are being involved and/or benefiting
from initiatives being implemented to promote co-existence of wildlife and humans
2. UWA and UWS not to impose their own initiatives upon communities but rather engage
the communities to come up with initiatives they think will help resolve the many issues
hampering their co-existence with wildlife in harmony
3. UWA to share with communities 20% of total revenue and not just PAs’ get collections
4. UWA to consider resettling the Batwa displaced from Bwindi National Park
5. UWA to come up with plan B for generating revenue to support conservation just in case
instead of increasing, the number of tourists and income from Tourism in Uganda
dwindles and revenue from oil is invested elsewhere other than in conservation
6. The Government to consider funding Wildlife Clubs in Uganda to inculcate conservation
values and appreciation among the youth and the elites as well
7. UWA to come up with a strategy for compensating human life lost due to wildlife (such as
Hippo’s) attack other than hiding behind the definition of Wildlife
From the audience, a member raises his policy concern; the need for UWA and Uganda
Government to design compensation strategy for human life lost due to wildlife (such as Hippo’s)
attack other than hiding behind the definition of Wildlife. This was in discussion-question answer
session during the UWS Public Policy Dialogue in February 22, 2013 at Hotel Africana in
Kampala. The dialogue theme was ‘how Best Can Uganda’s Wildlife and, Communities Adjacent
to Protected Areas Co-Exist in Harmony’? This dialogue was funded by the Royal Dutch
Government through Ecosystems Alliance (Wetlands International, BothEnds and IUCN-NL).

Minute 2 AGM 2013/2. Prayer
The AGM events opening prayer was said by Reverend Joseph Okumu of the Gospel Assembly
Church, Mukono.
Minute 3 AGM 2013/3. Communication from the Chair
Chairman welcomed members to the AGM 2013 and thanked them for their support of the
Society activities through the years.
Minute 4 AGM 2013/4. Annual General Meeting Agenda Review and Adoption
Members reviewed and adopted the Agenda as was presented (Mr. Mathias Mulumba proposed
the Agenda adoption and this was seconded by Steven Bagambe).
Minute 5 AGM 2013/5. Review of Minutes of the Previous – 2012 Annual General Meeting
Members reviewed and adopted the minutes. It was agreed that if any member later has any issues
with the minutes they could raise it up with the executive committee. Under matters arising,
members suggested that in future the secretariat report progress on action points in writing.
Minute 6 AGM 2013/6. Chairman’s report (activity 2012 and work plan 2013) to the AGM
Reading from his pre-prepaired notes to the AGM, Chairman began by introducing members of
his executive committee and following, reported at length on a number of projects and activities
that were accomplished in the year 2012, on the Society’s five strategic fronts i.e. conservationresearch
(and publications), initiatives, advocacy, policy influence and membership, concluding
his report with thanks to members of his executive committee who worked with him, staff of the
society, the donors, the speakers and partners. Chairman’s detailed notes to the AGM is online the
Society website (www.uws.or.ug), members’ you can access it from there and even download
whenever you wish. A copy of the report is also among the documents you have received together
with these minutes in your email.
Like the 2012 activity report, Chairman told members that the Society’s 2013 Annual Work plan
document will be uploaded online at www.uws.or.ug for members’ access and reference, even
though the document was also part of the documents members received together with the Notice
of 2013 AGM, in the email communication members received from the secretariat two months

prior to the AGM. Chairman mentioned that in the interest of conservation and to minimize waste,
the documents sent then were not again printed for the AGM. He requested members to read the
documents if they had not and raise any issues they may have with the executive committee.
Dr. Eldad Tukahirwa, The Chair Man, Uganda Wildlife Society Executive Committee 2012-2014
giving his presentation (Chairman’s Notes- Activity Report 2012 and Annual Work plan 2013) at
the Uganda Wildlife Society 13 th Annual General Meeting held on the 22 nd of February 2013 at
Hotel Africana. On his left is Isaac Nsibambi, the student representative on UWS executive
committee, on his right is Madam Caroline Aguti, the Treasurer UWS Executive Committee,
Next to her is Dr. Ambrose Mugisha, member of the executive committee and Next to his
Honourable John Arimpa Kigyagi, member of the executive committee and also Chairperson of
the UWS Membership and Publicity Sub Committee. Dr. Eldad informed members that the other
members of the UWS 2012- 2014 Executive Committee Absent with apology include Dr. Chris
Bakuneeta the Vice Chairperson, Commissioner James Lutalo, Honourable Jacob Wangolo and,
Mr. Gilbert Wathum.

Minute 7 AGM 2013/7. Treasurers’ financial report (2012 and projection 2013)
The treasurer informed members that the financial audited accounts report for the period 2012
was ready and so the society is up-to-date on this front. She said members interested in looking at
the detailed report are free to come forward and look at the books brought at the AGM and even
later at their convenience at the Secretariat. Like other documents, she said the report will also
be uploaded in the Society’s website for members’ easy access.
The treasurer informed members that the Society spent six hundred and fourteen million shillings
on acquisition of assets and on activities in 2012. The money she said was raised from donors, the
major one being Ecosystems Alliance (BothEnds, Wetlands International and IUCN-NL) and the
other being GEF/UNDP/Government of Uganda, Membership subscription and internal UWS
production including corporate T-shirts, Printing and photocopying. She further informed
members that like the Chairman reported, the Society sorted out all its debts and the financial
books were put in order- now up-to-date.
Giving the financial projections for 2013, the treasurer informed members that the Society has
planned activities and budgeted to spend about three hundred and eighty million Uganda shillings
of which about two hundred and nine million shillings is already secured thanks to the
Ecosystems Alliance, GEF/UNDP/Government of Uganda and, internal revenue from production
and projected membership annual subscription payment. To fill the financial gap, the society
executive committee and secretariat will undertake fundraising activities such as writing project
proposals the treasurer said, adding that members should if they come across any funding
opportunities forward them to the secretariat.

Responding to Chairman and treasurer’s report, members noted the committee and staff of UWS
performed very well, they thanked and applauded them with hand claps. On fund raising
strategies, members suggested among others that the Society
1. Use the current projects and also participate in public gallas and in rotary clubs to recruit
more members
2. Ask people taken in as volunteers and interns to become members and pay membership to
the Society
3. Consider introducing UWS as a club in Universities and in this case increase student
membership subscription to ten thousand from the current Uganda shillings five thousand
4. In addition to T shirts, consider branding and selling things like pens, umbrellas and
stickers to members to raise funds
After lengthy deliberations on the Chairman’s activity report 2012 and the treasurers report 2012
and financial projection 2013, members adopted the reports (Steven Bagambe moved the motion
for adoption (with little amendment that the reports be posted on line for members to access and
read through even if they received them in their emails), Mr. Irumba seconded the proposition,
Mr. Katende gave the approval and members adopted the reports.

Moving a motion for members to adopt Chairman and treasurer’s report (UWS 2012 annual
activity report and UWS 2012 Financial report and 2013 financial projection) Mr. Steven
Bagambe a member of the Uganda Wildlife Society. This was during the Uganda Wildlife Society
13 th Annual General Meeting held on the 22 nd of February 2013 at Hotel Africana.

Dr. Seruujogi Lastus approving the motion moved by Steven, for members to adopt the UWS
Chairman and Treasurer’s report (UWS 2012 annual activity report and UWS 2012 Financial
report and 2013 financial projection). This was during the Uganda Wildlife Society 13 th Annual
General Meeting held on the 22 nd of February 2013 at Hotel Africana.
Minute 8 AGM 2013/8. AGM Adoption of UWS 2013 Annual Work plan
For the UWS annual work plan 2013, Chairman mentioned that the work plan was sent to
members together with the notice of AGM in the email communication the secretariat made to
members two months prior to the 2013 AGM and so the document like other information prior
emailed was also not printed for members however a power point presentation was prepared and
was going to be given. Members mentioned that not only of them have access to internet and so
some of them had not read the work plan. Members also noted that the AGM had taken longer
time than was planned and it was already getting late for them to go to their homes. Upon
deliberations, members agreed the work plan be posted on the Society Website, they access and

ead and if they have any comments send them to the executive committee within two weeks.
Members agreed that after the two weeks, management consider and incorporate comments/inputs
submitted and begin implementation of the work plan. With those amendments, members
approved the UWS annual work plan 2013.
A member of the Uganda Wildlife Society submitting her concern that, not all members have
access to emails and so some have not read the Society annual work plan 2013. To address her
concern, members resolved that the 2013 work plan be adopted with amendment that the
secretariat post it and all the other AGM documents online UWS Website, Members submit their
inputs on the work plan if any within two weeks, management incorporate received inputs and
start implementing the work plan. This was during the Uganda Wildlife Society 13 th Annual
General Meeting held on the 22 nd of February 2013 at Hotel Africana.

Minute 9 AGM 2013/9 Discussion and Resolution on Constitutional Amendments
The chairman informed members that the executive committee upon careful considerations has
brought proposals for amendment of two articles in the UWS constitution. The proposals are;
1. Article 7 (2) Membership subscriptions shall be payable on the anniversary of the date
upon which the member became a member
Proposed amendment; Membership subscriptions shall be annual following the Calendar year
(necessary to streamline with the financial year of the Society which follows the Calendar Year).
Upon deliberations, members also noted that among others, donor organizations also use the
calendar year even though the proposed amendment may not necessarily mean that all members
will pay subscription at the same time.
After a lengthy deliberations, Dr. Makombo moved a motion for the article to be amended as
proposed by the executive committee. Chairman asked members to vote and all voted in support
of the proposed amendment and it was endorsed.
2. Article 26. Auditors shall be appointed annually to audit books of account of the Society
on such terms as to remuneration as the Executive Committee deems fit.
Proposed Amendment; Auditors shall be appointed once every three years to audit books
of account of the Society yearly on such terms as to remuneration as the Executive
Committee deems fit.
Some members raised the need for a modification of the amendment to include with
review annually and have provision for termination in case of un satisfactory performance.
Other members suggested instead of three years, the term for auditors be the same as the
term for the executive committee.
Upon lengthy deliberations and explanations from the executive committee, a member
raised the motion for the amendment to be endorsed but because some members were
opposed to the amendment, chairman subjected it to members’ votes. Upon call to vote,
one member voted against and while the rest voted in favor of the amendment. The article
was thus amended upon majority vote.

Dr. Eldad Tukahirwa, The Chair Man, Uganda Wildlife Society Executive Committee 2012-2014
presenting proposals for amendment or articles 7 (2) and 26 the UWS Constitution for members
consideration. All members endorsed article 7 (2) proposed amendment while article 26 was
amended with a majority vote with only one member voting against it. This was during UWS 13 th
Annual General Meeting held on the 22 nd of February 2013 at Hotel Africana.
Minute 10 AGM 2013/10. Any Other Business
Chairman called upon members to raise any issues for discussion if they had and there was none.
There being no other business to discuss, chairman closed the AGM 2013 with thanks to members
for their patience and participation to the end. He thanked members for their big turn up and
participation in the AGM, urging them to continue working with the Society throughout by
contributing articles to the E-Newsletter, giving feedback and visiting secretariat for
updates/involvement in day to day Society activities. The time being way past 8.00 PM and there
being no any other business to discuss, Chairman closed the AGM.
………………………
… ……………………….
Dr. Eldad Tukahirwa
Chairman
Priscilla Nyadoi
Executive Secretary

Draft Minutes of Uganda Wildlife Society Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Held on Friday 22, February 2013 at Hotel Africana Starting at 2.30PM-
Action Points from the Minutes.
Minute 1 AGM 2013/1. How Best Can Uganda’s Wildlife and, Communities Adjacent to
Protected Areas Co-Exist in Harmony?
1. Uganda Wildlife Society in dialogue with and is advocating for UWA to ascent, sign and
adopt wildlife resource access MOUs communities drafted, and implement the MOUs
among its collaborative management strategies for engaging the communities in PAS
conservation.
Minute 5 AGM 2013/5. Review of Minutes of the Previous – 2012 Annual General Meeting
1. The secretariat report progress on action points in writing within the minutes.
Minute 6 AGM 2013/6. Chairman’s report (activity 2012 and work plan 2013) to the AGM
1. The Society’s 2013 Annual Work plan be uploaded online at www.uws.or.ug for
members’ access and reference, even though the document was also part of the documents
members received together with the Notice of 2013 AGM in the email communication
they from the secretariat two months prior to the AGM.
2. Members raise any issues they may have on the annual work plan and all the reports sent
to them to the executive committee within two weeks from the dates the documents are
uploaded on line.
3. Management incorporates members’ inputs on the annual work plan and start
implementation of planned activities.
Minute 7 AGM 2013/7. Treasurers’ financial report (2012 and projection 2013)
1. Members interested in audit report should access and read it online the Society’s website.
2. The Society executive committee and secretariat undertake fundraising activities such as
writing project proposals.
3. Members should forward funding opportunities to the secretariat in case they know of any
sources/calls for proposals.
4. The Society should use current projects and participate in public galLas/rotary clubs to
recruit more members.

5. Volunteers/ interns should become members and pay membership subscription to UWS.
6. Management consider introducing UWS as a club in Universities and in this way increase
student membership subscription to ten thousand from the current shillings five thousand.
7. The Society consider, branding and selling pens, umbrellas and stickers to raise funds.
8. Secretariat posts online the Society Website, the Chairman and Treasurer’s reports
(activity and financial report 2012).
9. Members to access read and make inputs if any, in the Chairman and Treasurer’s reports
(activity and financial report 2012).
Minute 8 AGM 2013/8. AGM Adoption of UWS 2013 Annual Work plan
1. Secretariat post online UWS Website, the 2013 Annual Work Plan and Financial
Projections, members should access, read and make inputs/comments in these reports if
they have any and send them to the executive committee within two weeks.
2. After two weeks from the date of posting the annual work plan and financial projection
2013 online the Society Website, management should consider/incorporate
comments/inputs submitted by members and, begin implementing the planned activities.
Minute 9 AGM 2013/9 Discussion and Resolution on Constitutional Amendments
1. Article 7 (2) of the Uganda Wildlife Society be amended from; Membership subscriptions
shall be payable on the anniversary of the date upon which the member became a member to,
Membership subscriptions shall be annual following the Calendar Year).
2. Article 26 of the Uganda Wildlife Society Constitution be amended from; Auditors shall
be appointed annually to audit books of account of the Society on such terms as to
remuneration as the Executive Committee deems fit to, Auditors shall be appointed once
every three years to audit books of account of the Society yearly on such terms as to
remuneration as the Executive Committee deems fit.
Minute 10 AGM 2013/10. Any Other Business
1. Members continue working with the Society throughout by contributing articles to the E-
Newsletter, giving feedback and visiting secretariat for updates/involvement in day to day
Society activities.

APPENDIX: Names and contact details of participants in the Uganda Wildlife Society 2013
pre AGM and AGM events (Total 109 however, some participants did not register)