By Naome Namusoke/ KMA Updates
KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has asked Parliament to approve UGX10 billion for the purchase of a helicopter intended to strengthen surveillance of national parks, improve animal rescue operations and enable rapid deployment of veterinary doctors to treat injured wildlife.
The funding request came under scrutiny from Members of Parliament as UWA officials appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Tourism on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, during the consideration of the Tourism sector’s 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper (NBFP).
MPs raised concerns over whether the proposed UGX10 billion allocations also cover maintenance and operational costs of the aircraft, warning that failure to plan for long-term expenses could strain the authority’s already limited resources.
Responding to the concerns, Dorcus Rukundo Twesigomwe, the Business Development Manager at UWA, clarified that the requested amount is strictly for the acquisition of the helicopter and does not include maintenance costs.
“The members were asking, this helicopter at UGX10 billion, does it include maintenance? This UGX10 billion does not include maintenance. We are hoping that we are going to procure a brand-new helicopter and therefore maintenance will come slightly later,” Rukundo told the committee.
She explained that a helicopter would significantly enhance UWA’s ability to monitor vast and hard-to-reach protected areas, especially in the fight against poaching and other wildlife-related crimes. According to UWA, aerial surveillance would also improve response times during emergencies such as animal injuries, human-wildlife conflicts and search-and-rescue operations in remote parks.
UWA officials further noted that the helicopter would reduce reliance on hired aircraft, which are often costly and not always available when urgently needed. Currently, the authority depends on ground patrols and occasional contracted flights, which can delay interventions and increase operational risks for rangers.
However, MPs urged UWA to present a comprehensive plan detailing how maintenance, fuel, staffing and insurance costs would be financed once the helicopter is procured. Some legislators cautioned that acquiring the aircraft without a clear sustainability strategy could lead to it being grounded due to lack of funds.
The committee is expected to make recommendations on the request as it finalizes its report on the Tourism sector’s 2026/27 budget proposals, which will later be debated and approved by Parliament.
Tourism remains one of Uganda’s key foreign exchange earners, with wildlife conservation playing a central role in attracting visitors. UWA has argued that improved protection and management of national parks is critical to safeguarding the sector’s long-term growth and economic contribution.
