GROUND SURVEY OF LARGE TO MEDIUM MAMMALS IN

NAKASEKE DISTRICT CONCESSION AREA

UGANDA

Report prepared by

F. Wanyama, F. E, Kisame, A. Rwetsiba, I. Bwire, H. Agaba and N. Enyagu

UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY

November 2017

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Table of ContentsTable of Contents ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iList of Acronyms ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iiiAcknowledgements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ivSummary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vCHAPTER 1: Survey of Wild Animals in Nakaseke District----------------------------------------------- 1

Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1Objective of the survey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

CHAPTER 2: Census Method --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5Survey design-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5Method used to count animals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

CHAPTER 3: Data Analysis and Results ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7Data Analysis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7Results----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8Wild animal distribution maps ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9Poaching ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13

CHAPTER 4: Discussion----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17Conservation status in the Area------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17Population trends ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19Threats to Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Enterprise programs --------------------------------------- 21Sustainability and prospects of wildlife conservation and wildlife enterprise program---------------- 21

CHAPTER 5: Conclusion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22Recommendations ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22

REFERENCES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 23Appendix I: GPS start and end points (survey coordinates) for transects ---------------------- 24Appendix II: Ground Survey Data Sheet --------------------------------------------------------------------- 28Appendix III: Ground Survey Crew------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 29

List of table

Table 3.1: Densities and population estimate of wild animals in Nakaseke district, August 2017........8Table 3.2: Species encountered in low numbers .................................................................................. 9Table 4.1: Comparison of 2005 and 2015 Class areas.......................................................................18Table 4.2: Population trends and augmentation.................................................................................. 19Table 4.3: Areas proposed for excision from the concession area ..................................................... 19

List of Figure

Figure 1.1: Location of Nakaseke district ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2Figure 1.2: Map showing sub counties of Nakaseke district under concession agreement-------- 4Figure 2.1: Location of transects in Nakaseke concession survey zone ------------------------------- 5Figure 3.1: The perpendicular distance data for bushbuck in Nakaseke survey zone with the fittedHazard Rate Curve generated by DISTANCE. --------------------------------------------------------------- 8Figure 3.2: Species distribution map of bushbuck, reedbuck, duiker and vervet monkey-------- 10Figure 3.3: Species distribution map of Uganda kob, oribi and waterbuck--------------------------- 11Figure 3.4: Locations of charcoal burning kilns in the district ------------------------------------------- 12Figure 3.5: Charcoal burning activities------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13Figure 3.6: Bush meat seizure---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14

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Figure 3.7: Bushbuck carcasses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14Figure 3.8: Poachers arrested and bushbuck caught by a snare -------------------------------------- 15Figure 3.9: Hunting gears---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16Figure 4.1: Land cover map of Nakaseke district survey area for 2005 and 2015 ----------------- 17Figure 4.2: Area in Nakaseke district cleared for agriculture -------------------------------------------- 18Figure 4.3: Proposed extent of the concession area in Nakaseke District --------------------------- 20

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List of Acronyms

CDS Conventional Distance SamplingGPS Global Positioning SystemKCA Kibale Conservation AreaLMNP Lake Mburo National ParkMECA Mt. Elgon Conservation AreaMFCA Murchison Falls Conservation AreaQECA Queen Elizabeth Conservation AreaSRF Systematic Reconnaissance FlightsUWA Uganda Wildlife AuthorityUWEC Uganda wildlife Education centerUWSL Uganda Wildlife Safaris Limited

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Acknowledgements

Uganda Wildlife Authority organized and carried out this survey of large to medium mammals inNakaseke District. We are grateful to the Resident District Commissioner, Nakaseke District whogave the exercise a green light. We thank the Chief Wardens of KCA, MECA, LMNP, MFCA,QECA, in charges of UWEC, and ZIWA who timely provided the staff that undertook the survey.We thank the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities that seconded two staff (Mr. CandiaLeone and Mr. Okiror Stephen Fred) who participated in the survey. Special thanks go to theCommandants of Singo and Kaweweta Military Barracks for the good working relations exhibitedduring the survey period. We take this opportunity to also thank the Chairman Ngoma WildlifeAssociation, Mr. Tumusiime James who was available for the entire survey exercise and for hismobilization of the local communities. We are also grateful for the Offier in Charge Ngoma PolicePost who made sure that our fire arms were kept well and in good working condition.

Finally gratitude goes to the UWA field staff for their dedicated support during the entire field datacollection exercise. The public relations they exhibited during the fieldwork helped enlighten thecommunities on their role in wildlife management.

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Summary

The survey targeted medium to large mammal in Nakaseke district. It started by notification of thesecurity and political leaders at the district and sub county level. Mobilization of resources andpersonnel, was then done to enable a smooth flow of the exercise.

The staff who carried out the survey were drawn from different protected areas all over Ugandaand the survey crew camped in Ngoma town since it was deemed to be centrally place in thesurvey zone with easy access to all the transects.

The survey team was trained on the use of field equipment and the general ground surveyprocedures. The survey team was divided into 15 groups comprising of UWA staff and localcommunities from sub counties of Nakaseke. A total of 166 transects were traversed during thedata collection period.

During the exercise, five wardens were attached to administer the data collection thereby ensuringthat good quality data was being collected. This helped to train the participants in collecting qualitydata hence building a reliable ground survey team for UWA.

During the survey, farm owners and local communities interacted with were sensitized about thesurvey exercise and importance of wildlife management on their farms. Worth noting was that inmost areas, communities were ignorant of the wildlife law and lacked information on sport hunting.

The wild animal population in the district have drastically reduced probably due to commercialpoaching in the area and other land use change activities. Oribi’s which used to be in largenumbers are almost completely decimated in the area. Species with some significant numberswere bushbucks, duikers and reedbucks. Poaching for wild meat in the area was evident througharrests made during the exercise. Poaching by charcoal burners and locals was majorly noticedin the sub counties of Kinyogoga and Kaweweta

There was notable land use change in the district were subsistence farmland more than doubledfrom what it used to be in year 2005. Woodland vegetation has also substantially reduced fromits original status of 2005. It’s therefore noticeable that charcoal burning and land conversion foragriculture have caused habitat alteration of the area. The charcoal burning is done oncommercial basis by communities hired by farm owners to clear the farms. In areas with heavyagriculture activities and settlement like Kapeka and Kito, animals have completely disappearedeither through hunting of shifting due to loss of habitat.

The survey therefore shows that there is need to Intensify community conservation programs inNakaseke to sensitize communities on conservation and sport hunting programs. At the sametime, there is need to intensify law enforcement patrols to reduce the rampant poaching takingplace in the area. Expansion of the sport hunting activity to other areas with wild animals for equalbenefits is also necessary instead of the concessionaire targeting only one particular area.

There is need to excise areas that have been completed turned into agricultural land from theconcession area as they no longer hold wild animals.

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CHAPTER 1: Survey of Wild Animals in Nakaseke District

Introduction

Nakaseke District is found in Central Uganda, bordered by Nakasongola District to the north andnortheast, Luwero District to the southeast, Wakiso District to the south, Mityana District to thesouthwest. Kiboga District and Kyankwanzi District lie to the west and Masindi District lies to thenorthwest (Figure 1.1). The district covers an area of approximately 3,472 square kilometers.

Nakaseke District is divided into fifteen (15) administrative units Butalangu Town Council,Kapeeka, Kasangombe, Kikamulo, Kinoni, Kinyogoga, Kito, Kiwoko Town Council, Nakaseke,Nakaseke Town Council, Ngoma, Ngoma Town Council, Semuto, Semuto Town Council, andWakyato (Figure 1.1). Of the 15 administrative units, only six (06) Kapeeka, Ngoma, Kinoni, KitoKinyogoga and Wakyaato sub counties (Figure 1.2) were viable for wildlife conservation due tothe then suitable vegetation, predominate economic activity of cattle grazing, and cultural normof detesting wildlife products.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has the statutory obligation to manage and conserve wildlifeoutside Protected Areas for the benefit of all the stakeholders and the local communities. UWAtherefore revived management of wildlife outside protected areas and one such area wasNakaseke District. The concessionaire who took management of this area has one of his activitiesas sport hunting, which is one of the ways that local communities and stake holders can benefitfrom wildlife management.

In the above regard, a tripartite agreement was signed between the Management PartnersUganda Wildlife Safaris Limited (UWSL), Supervisory Partners UWA and District LocalGovernments where each party had a role to play. UWA has a role to carry out surveys outsideprotected areas to know the species of animals that inhabit these areas, there distribution andpopulation estimates.

Nakaseke district is part of the Kafu River Basin area. River Kafu is primarily a papyrus wetland,which forms a drainage sink for a large part of central Uganda. Water drains eastwards from thisswamp into Lake Kyoga, and westwards via the Nkusi River into Lake Albert. Much of this area,which includes parts of Luwero, Kyankwanzi, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and Masindi Districts, wasallocated as private ranch holdings in the 1970s and 80s, in the Buruli, Singo, Bunyoro andKiryandongo ranching schemes. Some areas are still managed as ranches, but many ranchholdings have been taken over by squatters (Lamprey 2003). In the mid-1990s it was suggestedby the former Game Department that there was some potential for community-based conservationin the Kafu River basin area.

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Figure 1.1: Location of Nakaseke district

Prior Surveys

In 1996 an SRF aerial survey of this area indicated that the human population density in the areawas still low, and that the area supported a significant population of Uganda kob, waterbuck,reedbuck, hartebeest (Lamprey and Michelmore 1996). The area also supported a small herd ofelephants (totaling 18), that lived in the dense thickets in the southern part of the area – as a smallisolated population, these elephants were translocated by UWA to Murchison Falls NP in 1999.In year 2000 another aerial survey was conducted of the core area to determine trends in wildlifepopulations, livestock populations and human settlement, in order to make a more definitivestatement about the possibilities for community conservation (Lamprey 2000). Results showedthat Hartebeest and waterbuck populations were virtually eliminated from the area, whilst hipposwere in a precarious state. The kob population also reduced by 50%.

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In 2009, the first comprehensive documentation of the wildlife resources using a ground surveyin Nakaseke District was carried out (Rwetsiba et al 2009). The report provided valuableinformation for development of interventions for sustainable utilization of wildlife resourcestherein. The findings suggested that Nakaseke still had diverse wildlife species comparable tothat of adjacent Kafu River Basin contiguous with MFCA. Key animal species recorded includedoribi, bushbuck, duiker, Uganda kob, Dik-dik, baboon, warthog and leopard. The study alsorevealed high levels of human activity in the area. The most common human activities werepoaching by use of wire snares, snap traps, tree cutting for fire wood, poles and charcoal burning.

Current survey

The ground survey in Nakaseke district commenced on 16th August 2017 and ended on 4th

September 2017. This was the second ground survey to be undertaken in the entire concessionarea of Nakaseke district.

The survey started with ground preparation where a team of five UWA staff travelled to the districtto network with the different leaders. The team comprised of the law enforcement unit, communitybenefit and wildlife enterprises unit as well as the Ecological monitoring and research unit. Theteam explained to the various district leaders the importance of the exercise. The offices visitedincluded; The Resident District Commissioner, District Police Commander, District InternalSecurity Officer, Local Council V, Sub county chairpersons, the District Wildlife Associationchairman, and the Commandants of the barracks of Singo and Kaweweta. This was done from16th to 18th August 2017.

The actual ground data collection on transects commenced on 21st August 2017 to 4th September2017.

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Figure 1.2: Map showing sub counties of Nakaseke district under concession agreement

Objective of the survey

The overall purpose of the survey was to establish current information on mammal speciesoccurrence, abundance and distribution patterns, focusing on medium to large sized wildmammals. The concessioner was being given quotas for sport hunting without relying on surveydata since 2010. The specific objectives are;

i. To generate the population estimate of medium to large wild mammal species in Nakasekedistrict

ii. To show wild mammal species distribution patterns in Nakaseke.iii. Provide data for monitoring and assessments of the current conservation strategies in the

district. In this case quota setting for Sport hunting).iv. Establish the illegal activities taking place in the district in relation to wildlife management.

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CHAPTER 2: Census Method

Survey design

Due to the bushland and woodland nature of vegetation in Nakaseke district, a ground surveywas deemed to be the best option. DISTANCE 6.0 (Laake et al. 2009) was used to design wheretransects would be located within the Nakaseke survey zone. The area was treated as one blockand transects within the block, analyzed as a single entity.

DISTANCE 6.0 allows an assessment of coverage probability by various transect design layoutsand can be used to try and maximize the chances that every portion of the survey area has anequal chance of being sampled. Using the DISTANCE software, and the concession areashapefile, a survey design was developed for line transects, positioning them evenly using theSystematic Segmented Trackline Sampling (Figure 2.1). A total of 166 transects each four (4)kilometre long were established. The spacing between individual transects was 2.5 km, giving aneffort trackline length of 664 kilometers.

Figure 2.1: Location of transects in Nakaseke concession survey zone

The coordinates of the start and end points of the transects were calculated by DISTANCE andare given in Appendix 1 for the survey block. This should allow subsequent surveys to find thesame points in the concession area and repeat surveys along the same lines, thereby allowingmore robust comparisons of differences between population estimates.

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Method used to count animals

Standard line transect methods were used to count wild game in the concession area (Bucklandet al. 2003). These involve walking each transect in the early morning at a speed of about 1 kmper hour recording all sightings of wild animals (estimating group size that can be seen at thetime) and other animal spoors. The perpendicular distance from the transect to the individualanimal/group of animals sighted is measured with a range finder to the center of animal group asestimated by the observer. The perpendicular measurements were made in meters. The lengthof each transect was also recorded at the end of each transect survey using the GPS.

The following assumptions were put into consideration during data collection as required forDistance analysis;

1. Line transects are located randomly with respect to the distribution of the animals.2. All animals on or very close to the center line of the transect are detected with certainty and

that the crew identifies all wild animals with ease. This has an influence on the estimation ofthe f(0).

3. Animal observations are independent of each other i.e., detection of one observation does notaffect detection of another observation.

4. All animals are detected from their initial positions when first sighted.5. Measurements are exact

Distances are recorded correctly and without measurement error. Distances near the transect are recorded precisely and accurately

Data collection

Fifteen survey teams each headed by an individual knowledgeable in using Distance samplingwere used to collect data on transects. The counts were all done on foot and they always startedin the mornings between 0730 and 1200 hours with the latest count starting at 1030 hours due tothe long distance walked by the crew to reach the transect. Each group made an effort to walkand collect data on one transect per day so as not to be fatigued and become biased, which iscommon in such ground surveys.

After reaching the starting point for each transect using the GPS, the census crew would walkquietly in a straight line using the GPS navigation until the end of transect. Each wild mammal orgroup of mammals spotted on either side of the transect line would be quickly counted and theperpendicular distance from the observation to the centerline of transect accurately estimated.All the information was recorded on specially designed data sheets (Appendix II). Otherobservations believed to be useful to management such as illegal activities were also recorded.

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CHAPTER 3: Data Analysis and Results

Data Analysis

DISTANCE software was used to carry out the analysis. The software allows to design andanalyze distance sampling surveys, where the aim is to estimate the density and abundance of abiological population. As with any statistical procedure, line transect methods rely on adequatesample sizes for estimation. Buckland et al. (1993, p. 302) suggest that the minimum number ofobservations required for adequate estimation of the detection function g is 60 to 80. It is standardpractice to pool distance data across all transects when estimating g. Even when detectabilityvaries by transect, the property of `pooling robustness' ensures that abundance estimation is stillreliable (Buckland et al., 1993, p. 42).

Estimating the detection function

After data have been appropriately collected, equations or numerical methods are used to modelthe detection function, from which density is estimated. A number of competing models of howdetection decreases with distance have been proposed. Version 6 of DISTANCE has threedifferent analysis engines for estimating the detection function. In this study, only the ConventionalDistance Sampling (CDS) engine was used. The CDS engine is a FORTRAN program based onthe code in earlier versions of Distance. CDS assumes that detection of an animal on the line orpoint is certain. The same detection function is assumed to apply for all animals; this seemsunrealistic, but the ‘pooling robustness’ property of CDS estimators ensures that moderateamounts of unmodelled heterogeneity cause little bias (Buckland et al. 2004:389–392). The CDSengine implements the flexible semi-parametric detection function modelling framework proposedby Buckland (1992), where a parametric key function is paired with zero or more series adjustmentterms. Four key functions are available: uniform, half-normal, hazard-rate and negativeexponential. Adjustments can be cosine terms, or hermite or simple polynomials. All the fourfunctions were tried out with the different three adjustments.

The perpendicular distance data collected are used to fit a curve that models the decline invisibility with distance from the transect for each species. This enables us to calculate the densityof a species by allowing us to calculate the proportion of animals missed (Buckland et al 1993).A typical curve often has a shoulder and sharp drop off (Figure 3.1).

The densities were calculated along with a confidence interval. Confidence limits for the mean(Snedecor and Cochran, 1989) are an interval estimate for the mean. Interval estimates are oftendesirable because the estimate of the mean varies from sample to sample. Instead of a singleestimate for the mean, a confidence interval generates a lower and upper limit for the mean. Theinterval estimate gives an indication of how much uncertainty there is in our estimate of the truemean. The narrower the interval, the more precise is our estimate.

Confidence limits are expressed in terms of a confidence coefficient. Although the choice ofconfidence coefficient is somewhat arbitrary, in practice 90%, 95%, and 99% intervals are oftenused, with 95% being the most commonly used. Therefore, 95% confidence interval is a range ofvalues that you can be 95% certain contains the true mean of the population. This is not the sameas a range that contains 95% of the values. Thus, it is correct to say that there is a 95% chance

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that the confidence interval you calculated contains the true population mean, but it is not quitecorrect to say that there is a 95% chance that the population mean lies within the interval.

Figure 3.1: The perpendicular distance data for bushbuck in Nakaseke survey zone with the fittedHazard Rate Curve generated by DISTANCE.

Results

Density Estimates

The survey measured the population size of mammals in the survey zone. Consequently, thepopulation estimates of the animals as counted in the survey were calculated with their associatederrors and 95% confidence limits (Table 3.1). It should be noted that this has been the secondground survey, to be carried out in the Nakaseke concession area.

Density estimates were made for the wild game species where reasonably sufficient data wereobtained from the transects (at least more than 30 sightings).

Table 3.1: Densities and population estimate of wild animals in Nakaseke district, August 2017

Species Density PopulationEstimate SE 95% Confidence Interval

LCL UCLBushbuck 7.63 11,090 1,078 9,158 13,429Duiker 2.67 3,745 790 2,480 5,655Uganda Kob1 0.81 1,141 362 619 2,102Reedbuck 0.68 950 242 579 1,559Vervet monkey 2.46 1,674 404 1,045 2,681

1 Analysis carried out but the encounter of observation this was 18. The rest of the species data analyzed hadencounters of more than 30.

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Besides the animals assessed in Table 3.1, there were other mammal species found in the studyarea which were seen but whose observations were few to warrant calculation of their populationsusing the DISTANCE software (Table 3.2). Most of these species occurred in low numbers. Thiscould be attributed to the fact that line transect method is not suitable for their populationestimations. Other methods such as camera traps might be better ways to estimate populationsof these species.

Table 3.2: Species encountered in low numbers

Name Encounter Sum of SizeJackal 2 2Dik-dik 3 3Waterbuck 3 10Hare 5 5Warthog 5 15Bush pig 6 7Ground Hornbill 7 12Oribi 7 8

Wild animal distribution maps

Encounters of the recorded animals, were spatially mapped using the GIS computer packageArcGIS 10.3. The relative abundance of animals in the different areas of the survey zone wasrepresented using circles of different sizes Figure 3.2 and Figure 3.3 This enables the spatialdistribution of animals to be analyzed visually showing concentrations of different species.

In general, there is decline in wild mammal populations in the district due to reducing habitatespecially in Kito, parts of Wakyato and Kapeeka Sub counties which are now turned into bothlarge scale and small scale agricultural/cultivation. These areas actually hold almost no animalsany more due to reduced direct animal observations

Most of the wild animals are distributed in the areas of Kinoni, Ngoma and Kinyogoga. It istherefore evident that where sport hunting is effective especially in parts of Ngoma and Kinoni,wildlife populations are high and the community seem to appreciate wildlife on their land.

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Figure 3.2: Species distribution map of bushbuck, reedbuck, duiker and vervet monkey

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Figure 3.3: Species distribution map of Uganda kob, oribi and waterbuck

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Human impacts

Signs of human activities in the area were recorded along the transects. These included;settlements, cultivation, land clearing for agriculture, charcoal burning, wire snaring, pole cutting,brick laying, timber logging and tree plantations.

Charcoal burning

With the growth of human populations and resulting expansion of agriculture, settlements, androads, the wildlife habitats are continuously being fragmented as well as being lost. Landconversion is being done where trees are enormously being cut done for charcoal burning tochange the area into farmland. Figure 3.4 indicate locations of charcoal burning in the districtwhile Figure 3.5 displays the actual activity of charcoal burning as encountered on ground. Thuswild animals are losing their habitats and being pushed into closer quarters with humans. Duringthe exercise, 673 incidences of charcoal burning were encountered.

Figure 3.4: Locations of charcoal burning kilns in the district

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Figure 3.5: Charcoal burning activities

Poaching

Another vice decimating the wild animals in the district is the rampant poaching. The animals arehunted mainly for meat and this is for commercial purposes. Other derivatives such as skins andhorns are popular in some areas as charms against evil spirits. Some wild animals like Bushduikers are hunted in reprisal for raiding crops. In June 2017, an anti-poaching patrol teamarrested a lady with 483 kg of smoked meat in Megaera Figure 3.6. The source of meat wasNakaseke district in the Sub county of Ngoma and Kinoni as revealed by the culprit. In Novemberthis year, the chairman of the Wildlife Association Ngoma Sub County arrested poachers with five(5) carcasses of bushbucks Figure 3.7. The survey encountered seven (7) dead bushbucks, onedead duiker, one dead oribi, one dead reedbuck and 2 dead vervet monkeys.

Bush meat offtake is high in the unprotected areas of Kafu Basin compared to Protected AreaOluport (2008) and the off take is influenced by the level of law enforcement and abundance of

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animal populations. The study also showed that meat hunted in the Kafu Basin was sold both inthe neighboring villages and distant areas that included Kampala, Gulu, Lira, and Kitgum. Thestudy also showed dealing in bushmeat was a major source of livelihood, contributing as high as95% of the total annual household income to some hunters and fetching dealer’s profits of over30% of the cost price.

Figure 3.6: Bush meat seizure

Figure 3.7: Bushbuck carcasses

During the survey period, three groups of poachers were encountered and the seven (7) offenderswere arrested and taken to police. Figure 3.8 shows the offenders together with the hunting tools

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they use who were taken to the Ngoma police station, while Figure 3.9 displays the hunting gears(hunting nets, spears and snap trap) that were confiscated from the poachers.

Figure 3.8: Poachers arrested and bushbuck caught by a snare

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Figure 3.9: Hunting gears

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CHAPTER 4: Discussion

Conservation status in the Area

Mammal abundance and distribution are affected by the alteration of their habitat. Nakasekedistrict is not a protected area and as such, the people living there are free to utilize their land asthey so wish. But in so doing, they are altering the habitat suitable for wild animals. The humanactivities taking place in the survey zone included, bush clearing, charcoal burning, cattle grazing,settlement, cultivation, large scale farming, timber logging and softwood tree plantations. Much ofthe woodland is being cut down, wood being used for charcoal burning in preparedness forranches and cultivation. Most of these human impacts, impact negatively on management ofwildlife outside protected areas. The current challenge now is how to ensure sustainable utilizationof the natural resource and biodiversity to enhance livelihood and the development of the localcommunity. Figure 4.1 shows the land cover maps of the census zone for years 2005 and 2015

Figure 4.1: Land cover map of Nakaseke district survey area for 2005 and 2015

Table 4.1: below, is a comparison of land cover classes for the year 2005 and 2015. There were8 land cover classes in 2015 but in 2015 they were 12 class, class 3 which is the Tropical HighForest, fully stocked is missing. Column AREA(HA)2005 show the area of the land cover class in

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hectares in 2005 and column AREA(HA)2015 shows area of the same class in 2015. Then thedifference column shows the difference between the figures. The classes are according to theNational Biomass Study (NBS) Classification.

Table 4.1: Comparison of 2005 and 2015 Class areas

CLASSCODE

CLASS DESCRIPTION AREA(HA)2005 AREA(HA)2015 DIFFERENCE1 Deciduous plantation or woodlot 60 602 Coniferous plantation or woodlot 3,195 3,1954 Tropical High Forest, depleted 116 1165 Woodland 119,601 68,092 -51,5096 Bushland 70,367 77,164 6,7977 Grassland 48,655 71,965 23,3108 Wetland 17,372 18,279 9069 Subsistence farmland 15,588 31,724 16,136

10 Uniform farmland 159 731 57211 Urban or Rural Built-up Area 105 452 34712 Open Water 161 226 6513 Impediments 6 6

From the vegetation land cover maps, it’s evident that there is significant changes taking place inNakaseke district. The woodland decreased significantly from 119,601 hectares in 2005 to 68,092hectares in 2015. This shows a decrease for the wildlife habitat. Such areas are being convertedto large scale farms of crops like maize Figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2: Area in Nakaseke district cleared for agriculture

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Population trends

From this survey of August 2017, we note that there is a steep decline of the oribi, duiker andbushbuck populations in comparison to the ground survey of 2009. The oribi’s in this area arealmost decimated, bushbuck population gone down half way it used to be while the duikerpopulation is also greatly reduced as indicated by the percentage augmentation (Table 4.2). Thedecline of the wildlife population can mainly be attributed to poaching of bush meat for commercialpurposes. This was further heightened by lack of illegal hunting interventions in the Nakasekeconcession area since 2009. A wildlife centre has just been setup in Nakaseke district to combatthe illegal wildlife activities. Though a great damage had already been done on the wildlife,presently arrest are being made to curb the vice.

Table 4.2: Population trends and augmentation.

Animalspecies Density 2009 Density 2017 Population Est.

2009PopulationEst. 2017 % Augmentation

Oribi 16 0.00 29,101 8 -100%Bushbuck 13 7.63 21,180 11,090 -48%Duiker 11 2.67 13,429 3,745 -72%

Proposed new concession boundary

During the survey, it was noted, in Kapeeka and Kito Sub counties, the woodland land andgrassland areas that had remained were being converted to small and large scale agriculture. Forinterest to properly manage the concession zone, we recommend excision of this area. The landcover map 2015 Figure 4.3 of the concession zone shows agricultural activities in Kapeeka andKito thus we propose a new boundary for the Nakaseke concession area as shown in Figure 4.3.

The parishes we recommend excision in the Kapeeka and Kito Sub Counties are detailed in Table4.3. In Wakyato Sub County, the parishes of Mijjumwa and Nakonge should also be removedfrom the concession area for the same reason that they are being turned into subsistencefarmland as shown in Figure 4.2 .leaving no area suitable for wild game.

Table 4.3: Areas proposed for excision from the concession area

District Sub county Parish

Nakaseke

Kapeeka

KalagalaKapeekaKisimulaNamusaleNaluvule

KitoKasisoKitoKivumu

Wakyato MijjumwaNakonge

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Figure 4.3: Proposed extent of the concession area in Nakaseke District

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Threats to Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Enterprise programs

Commercialised poaching in the area, which seems to have a backing of the locals andlandowners or farm managers. This situation seems to be stimulated by lack of benefits fromwildlife on the ranches.

Rapid conversion of the wilderness land into farmlands for cultivation as well as,vegetation/ecosystem changes probably due to climate change effects.

Influx of the migrants in the area from places like Kabale which has increased demand for wildmeat and charcoal burning.

Inadequate and uneven implementation of Wildlife Enterprise (sport hunting) program in therespective sub Counties contrary to the management agreement

Limited awareness on wildlife conservation and popularization of the wildlife Enterpriseprogramme to give hope to landowners.

The Professional Hunter is over stretched to give any meaningful and effective service as heconcentrates in one Block which reduce effectiveness of the program.

Sustainability and prospects of wildlife conservation and wildlife enterprise program

This squarely hinge on the wildlife compatible economic activities in the area, benefit/incentivesto landowners in mitigating the costs associated with co-existing with wildlife, and positiveengagements with the "senior" citizen in the area who own huge chunks of land in hundreds ofsquare miles.

Unlike Kapeeka, Kito and part of Wakyato Sub Counties where 90% of the area has been turnedinto farmlands, the other sub counties, Ngoma, Kinoni and Kinyogoga are still secure and suitablefor wildlife conservation. The ongoing programs of opening up of some of these areas throughclearing by the landowners which is aiming at securing forage for their cattle is still compatiblewith wildlife species, since the species on these land are predominately grazers and need fairlyopen savannah areas.

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CHAPTER 5: Conclusion

Over the last eight years wild animals in Nakaseke district have been decimated by poaching andloss of habitat. Large quantities of bush meat have been marketed on the Kampala-Gulu road,particularly in the area of the Kafu river bridge. Settlement have also increased and more cattlehave been brought into the area, by the pastoralists.

The area is clearly in a process of being hugely transformed in terms of uncontrolled humansettlement, habitat disturbance, and the elimination of large wildlife species. This area serves asa production zone for both charcoal and bush meat for urban markets.

The findings of this survey in comparison to the one undertaken in 2009 is an eye-opener in that,despite a management partner being brought on board with the intention of reducing the wildlifevulnerability and conservation threats in Nakaseke district, a lot more need to be done. Unlesscritical actions are taken, wildlife conservation in Nakaseke district will no longer be an option.

Recommendations

Short term

Robust wildlife conservation sensitization and awareness in the district UWA should extensively engage the Management partner over issues of non-compliancy in

relation to management agreement UWA should intervene and support or collaborate with the management partner to reach out

to the "senior" citizens in the area whose influence is uncountable, to popularize the wildlifeEnterprise in the area

There is need for UWA and UWSL to design prudent sustainable wildlife utilizationapproaches in order to reverse or prevent further decline of the wildlife resources in Nakasekeand the surrounding areas.

Long term

UWSL should be engaged on matters of evenly distribution and implementation of WildlifeEnterprise, and improved community benefits.

Excise the Sub County of Kapeeka, Kito and some parishes of Wakyato from the concessionarea in the agreement since they are no longer viable and productive for wildlife conservationand wildlife enterprise. This will reduce pressure on the management partner, and also stopgiving false hope to the local community.

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REFERENCES

Buckland, S.T. (1992) Fitting density functions using polynomials. Applied Statistics, 41, 63.

Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P. & Laake, J.L. 1993. Distance Sampling: EstimatingAbundance of Biological Populations. Chapman & Hall, London.

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Appendix I: GPS start and end points (survey coordinates) for transects

Name Easting Northing Name Easting Northing1S 371600 150988 25S 384100 1253081E 371600 146988 25E 384100 1213082S 374100 142559 26S 386600 1275682E 374100 146559 26E 386600 1235683S 374100 149059 27S 386600 1220733E 374100 153059 27E 386600 1180734S 376600 136967 28S 386600 1620324E 376600 140967 28E 386600 1580325S 376600 143438 29S 386600 1555325E 376600 147438 29E 386600 1515326S 376600 149938 30S 386600 1490326E 376600 153938 30E 386600 1450327S 379100 160421 31S 386600 1425327E 379100 156421 31E 386600 1385328S 379100 155058 32S 386600 1360328E 379100 151058 32E 386600 1320329S 379100 148558 33S 389100 1092689E 379100 144558 33E 389100 113268

10S 379100 142058 34S 389100 11576810E 379100 138058 34E 389100 11976811S 379100 135558 35S 389100 12136711E 379100 131558 35E 389100 12536712S 379100 129058 36S 389100 13867212E 379100 125058 36E 389100 14267213S 381600 119457 37S 389100 14517213E 381600 123457 37E 389100 14917214S 381600 125836 38S 389100 15167214E 381600 129836 38E 389100 15567215S 381600 132336 39S 389100 15738415E 381600 136336 39E 389100 16138416S 381600 138836 40S 391600 12263616E 381600 142836 40E 391600 11863617S 381600 145336 41S 391600 11613617E 381600 149336 41E 391600 11213618S 381600 151836 42S 391600 10963618E 381600 155836 42E 391600 10563619S 381600 157015 43S 391600 16017519E 381600 161015 43E 391600 15617520S 384100 157808 44S 391600 15504220E 384100 153808 44E 391600 15104221S 384100 151308 45S 391600 14854221E 384100 147308 45E 391600 14454222S 384100 144808 46S 391600 14204222E 384100 140808 46E 391600 13804223S 384100 138308 47S 391600 13666123E 384100 134308 47E 391600 13266124S 384100 131808 48S 394100 10438924E 384100 127808 48E 394100 108389

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Name Easting Northing Name Easting Northing49S 394100 110889 73S 401600 15204649E 394100 114889 73E 401600 14804650S 394100 117389 74S 401600 14554650E 394100 121389 74E 401600 14154651S 394100 123889 75S 401600 13904651E 394100 127889 75E 401600 13504652S 394100 136245 76S 401600 13254652E 394100 140245 76E 401600 12854653S 394100 142745 77S 401600 12604653E 394100 146745 77E 401600 12204654S 394100 149245 78S 401600 11954654E 394100 153245 78E 401600 11554655S 394100 155261 79S 401600 11304655E 394100 159261 79E 401600 10904656S 396600 128374 80S 401600 10654656E 396600 124374 80E 401600 10254657S 396600 121874 81S 404100 15395257E 396600 117874 81E 404100 14995258S 396600 115374 82S 404100 14769958E 396600 111374 82E 404100 14369959S 396600 108874 83S 404100 14119959E 396600 104874 83E 404100 13719960S 396600 104168 84S 404100 13469960E 396600 100168 84E 404100 13069961S 396600 153535 85S 404100 12819961E 396600 149535 85E 404100 12419962S 396600 147035 86S 404100 12169962E 396600 143035 86E 404100 11769963S 396600 140535 87S 404100 11519963E 396600 136535 87E 404100 11119964S 399100 100217 88S 404100 10869964E 399100 104217 88E 404100 10469965S 399100 106616 89S 404100 10299365E 399100 110616 89E 404100 9899366S 399100 113116 90S 406600 14758166E 399100 117116 90E 406600 14358167S 399100 119616 91S 406600 14108167E 399100 123616 91E 406600 13708168S 399100 126116 92S 406600 13458168E 399100 130116 92E 406600 13058169S 399100 134646 93S 406600 12808169E 399100 138646 93E 406600 12408170S 399100 141146 94S 406600 12158170E 399100 145146 94E 406600 11758171S 399100 147646 95S 406600 11508171E 399100 151646 95E 406600 11108172S 399100 152857 96S 406600 10858172E 399100 156857 96E 406600 104581

26

Name Easting Northing Name Easting Northing97S 406600 102081 121S 414100 10761397E 406600 98081 121E 414100 11161398S 409100 72428 122S 414100 11411398E 409100 76428 122E 414100 11811399S 409100 97529 123S 414100 12061399E 409100 101529 123E 414100 124613

100S 409100 104029 124S 414100 127113100E 409100 108029 124E 414100 131113101S 409100 110529 125S 414100 133613101E 409100 114529 125E 414100 137613102S 409100 117029 126S 414100 139825102E 409100 121029 126E 414100 143825103S 409100 123529 127S 416600 76673103E 409100 127529 127E 416600 80673104S 409100 130029 128S 416600 83173104E 409100 134029 128E 416600 87173105S 409100 136529 129S 416600 99450105E 409100 140529 129E 416600 103450106S 409100 143029 130S 416600 105259106E 409100 147029 130E 416600 109259107S 411600 69855 131S 416600 111759107E 411600 73855 131E 416600 115759108S 411600 76943 132S 416600 118259108E 411600 80943 132E 416600 122259109S 411600 82301 133S 416600 124759109E 411600 86301 133E 416600 128759110S 411600 95515 134S 416600 131259110E 411600 99515 134E 416600 135259111S 411600 102015 135S 416600 137759111E 411600 106015 135E 416600 141759112S 411600 108515 136S 419100 74451112E 411600 112515 136E 419100 78451113S 411600 115015 137S 419100 80951113E 411600 119015 137E 419100 84951114S 411600 121515 138S 419100 85768114E 411600 125515 138E 419100 89768115S 411600 128015 139S 419100 103901115E 411600 132015 139E 419100 107901116S 411600 134515 140S 419100 110401116E 411600 138515 140E 419100 114401117S 411600 141015 141S 419100 116901117E 411600 145015 141E 419100 120901118S 414100 81234 142S 419100 123401118E 414100 85234 142E 419100 127401119S 414100 93852 143S 419100 129901119E 414100 97852 143E 419100 133901120S 414100 101113 144S 419100 136401120E 414100 105113 144E 419100 140401

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Name Easting Northing145S 421600 73211145E 421600 77211146S 421600 83639146E 421600 87639147S 421600 100026147E 421600 104026148S 421600 105404148E 421600 109404149S 421600 111904149E 421600 115904150S 421600 118404150E 421600 122404151S 421600 124904151E 421600 128904152S 421600 131404152E 421600 135404153S 424100 138492153E 424100 134492154S 424100 132544154E 424100 128544155S 424100 126044155E 424100 122044156S 424100 119544156E 424100 115544157S 424100 113044157E 424100 109044158S 424100 106544158E 424100 102544159S 426600 99626159E 426600 103626160S 426600 105584160E 426600 109584161S 426600 112084161E 426600 116084162S 426600 118584162E 426600 122584163S 426600 125084163E 426600 129084164S 426600 131584164E 426600 135584165S 429100 101303165E 429100 105303166S 429100 125272166E 429100 129272

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Appendix II: Ground Survey Data SheetSurvey Area: …………………………………………

Observer (Team Leader): …………………….….….. Date: ………………………... Census Number: ……………….

Transect No.: ………………… Transect length: ………..…...Other observers1.…………………………………

Start time: ………………..…… End Time: ……………..……. 2.……………………..….………

Waypoint

Easting36M

NorthingUTM Time Animal species Perp. Dist

(m)Group

size REMARKS/Habitat

29

Appendix III: Ground Survey Crew

Part of the ground survey crew during briefing