The Uganda Wildlife Authority – UWA has closed down Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary with immediate effect.

The closure was announced in a statement by UWA in response to the ongoing wrangles between Zziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches (ZRWR), the owners of the land where the sanctuary is located and Rhino Fund Uganda, an NGO managing the rhinos.

“The closure has been triggered by the persistent misunderstandings and UWA realized that the conflict could potentially compromise the safety of the rhinos and took this decision to avert the threat,” the UWA statement seen by The Tower Post reads in part.

The authority further revealed that they have taken over full charge of the security of the Rhinos at the Nakasongola based sanctuary.

In the meantime, the sanctuary is closed to the public and no tourism activities will be undertaken at the extablishment.

UWA in their statement distanced themselves from the standoff between the two parties reiterating their impartiality in the matter.

Last week, UWA, the institution whose mandate is to protect Uganda’s wildlife heritage announced it was finalizing the process of relocating all the rhinos at the sanctuary to a safer place but not update has been given about the progress of the move.