The Uganda Atlas

ganda is rich in wildlife resources that are located

in both gazettted areas and on private lands.

In addition to forest reserves, Uganda has four

types of wildlife protected areas namely national parks,

wildlife reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and community

wildlife areas; classified according to the degree of

protection accorded. These areas are entirely for

conservation of wildlife. There are six forest national

parks namely Mgahinga, Bwindi impenetrable, Kibale,

Semliki, Rwenzori Mountains and Mt. Elgon.

There are also four savannah ecosystem national parks

namely Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls,

and Kidepo.

The National parks occupy a total area of 11,150 km

(4% of the country’s area). There are also ten wildlife

reserves which occupy 8,760 km

(3.6% of the country’s

area) of the country’s area, and consist primarily of

grassland with patches of dry woodland and scrubland.

In addition, there are seven wildlife sanctuaries and

thirteen community wildlife areas. Overall, protected

wildlife areas occupy about 20% of the area of Uganda,

which is quite a significant proportion.

Uganda boasts of a diversity of wildlife both flora and

fauna species; which are mainly due to a diversity of

landscapes that lead to different ecosystems ranging

from mountain, tropical forests to savannah grasslands.

The conservation areas habour species of both national

and global importance.

The main economic benefit from the wildlife estate has

been revenue earnings from tourism. The other benefits

include cultural and scientific. The conservation of

Uganda’s wildlife resources also has benefits of global

significance. Sustainable use of these conservation areas

faces many challenges such as increased population

pressure leading to competition for land resources,

and conflict between humans and wildlife. Wildlife

conservation in Uganda faces a number of threats which

include encroachment on the conservation areas for

agriculture and settlements, poaching, destruction of

wildlife considered to be vermin.

Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (2008)

Area (sq. km)

23%

18%

57%

National Parks

Wildlife reserves

Wildlife sanctuaries

Community wildlife areas

Proportional area coverage of each of the

conservation categories

Conservation areas:

Wildlife

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) 2008

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park