Kampala — THE World Bank and the UN have recognised the initiative of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in the protection of the globally endangered mountain gorillas.

In a recent report of the World Bank, it was noted that the government had got accolades from the Great Apes Survival Project (GASP) of the United Nations environment Programme at a recent meeting in Kinshasa.

"GASP noted that Uganda is the only country in which gorillas have been consistently on the rise and where the population is part of effective legislation that recognises its habitats within a gazetted national system of protected areas," said the report. UWA has been getting funds from the World Bank in the last decade to undertake conservation activities.

The mission also recognised the tourism ministry and UWA on the recent achievements in entering the Goma Accord with Congo and Rwanda on October 13.

The accord was signed by the three states and commits the countries and their respective wildlife authorities to manage the gorilla habitat of the Virunga Conservation Area in a sustainable way.

UWA's head Moses Mapesa said the increase of gorillas shows that UWA was working with its partners to protect nature and promote its sustainable use.

Uganda's Bwindi impenetrable national park has more than half of the global population of an estimated population of 780 mountain gorillas.

UWA shares revenue generated from entrance fees with the communities living at the borders of the protected areas.