Buhoma, Kanungu District, Uganda – 16 October 2025

The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) has handed over essential field equipment to the Management of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to strengthen efforts against illegal wildlife trade (IWT) within the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL).

The handover ceremony took place at the park headquarters in Buhoma, Kanungu District, and was presided over by Mr. Mukeshimana Juvénal, GVTC Programme Assistant, who represented the organization in delivering the equipment to the Management of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park  represented  by Mr. Chemonges Amusa, Senior Warden In-Charge of the Southern Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

The donated equipment included Blackview smartphones (BL 6200 Plus, 8GB RAM + 256GB storage) for data collection and reporting, hand-held GPS Garmin 65s units, power banks, green hiking backpacks (40L), sleeping mats, and waterproof tents (fiber glass, 210D, coated with silver) — all designed to enhance rangers’ patrol operations and improve field data management.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Mukeshimana Juvénal, on behalf of Dr. Andrew Ggunga Seguya, GVTC Executive Secretary, who was engaged on another official mission, reaffirmed GVTC’s commitment to supporting conservation agencies and frontline teams dedicated to protecting the region’s rich biodiversity:

“GVTC remains steadfast in strengthening the capacity of our field teams to effectively monitor, report, and combat illegal wildlife activities. We trust that this equipment will significantly boost patrol efficiency and data accuracy, contributing to our collective goal of achieving Zero Poaching across the Greater Virunga Landscape,” he said.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Mr. Chemonges Amusa expressed appreciation to GVTC for its continuous partnership and timely support:

“We are grateful to GVTC and its partners for this generous support. This equipment will go a long way in enhancing our rangers’ ability to conduct efficient patrols and safeguard the unique biodiversity of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We commit to using it effectively to further our conservation mission,” he remarked.

This handover is part of the “Towards Zero Poaching in the Greater Virunga Landscape” project, funded by the UK Government’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The project is jointly implemented by GVTC in collaboration with WWF, WCS, IGCP, and TRAFFIC, working closely with protected area authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity, capability, and coordination of multiple agencies responsible for wildlife conservation across the GVL. By providing equipment, training, and promoting standardized monitoring tools and cross-border collaboration, the project seeks to reduce both national and transboundary illegal wildlife trade, ultimately contributing to stable wildlife populations and improved community livelihoods in this vital transboundary ecosystem.