Good tidings yet again rain in the gorilla park of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. For their dedicated efforts and determination to keep the gorilla habitat well and alive, the rangers and porters of Bwindi have been appreciated by Gosmile,a Ugandan Non Governmental Organization(NGO registered both in Uganda and Germany.
The organization whose three pillars is to support children and, women with start-up support to improve family welfare and health care has pledged to support primarily the guides, trackers and law enforcement rangers as well as porters of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with school tuition and scholastic materials for their children.
This comes on the heels of the accolade the park received from Trip Advisor has tourists’ favorite for visitation in 2012 with a five star performance. The decision to support the staff followed a discussion between the management of Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA) headed by the Area Manager Mr. Pontius Ezuma and the Directors and sponsors of Gosmile.
The Directors of GoSmile who called on the CAM- BMCA Mr. Ezuma last week were happy to partner with the park and also commended management for ensuring that the estate is well run and protected.
They revealed that earlier, GoSmile had been undertaking such sponsorships through community groups around Bwindi but such help channeled had been mismanaged without reaching the intended benefactors. They were however happy to get engaged in conservation with UWA through BMCA and have every confidence that much will be achieved in this sponsorship.
It was envisaged that by linking conservation to through the help rendered to staff and porters with their immediate family, it will greatly encourage them double efforts, reduce illegal activities but as well make a contribution to the local communities as a conservation benefit.
A majority of the ranger force of the CA and all porters are born from the villages neighboring the park. The head guide Bwindi Sgt.Maj Ndayakunze Sunday on behalf of the benefitting staff pledged the commitment of the field team in ensuring that their efforts are doubled to make eco-tourism appreciated around the park. He thanked the management of Bwindi Mgahinga- CA and UWA as a whole for being committed to ensure staff welfare improves.
The Country Director Gosmile Mr. Moses Kiiza pledged to further hold more meetings on how best to effect and develop clear guidelines on implementation of this partnership. They left a few pens and pencils, flasks, sources, warm blankets, socks and lunch packs for rangers at the end of the discussion where they are optimistic to working with us to effect this support.
The chairman of the porters Association Buhoma Habomugisha Edward was so moved with this gesture and pledged even further support to protect the home of the mountain gorillas.