Kidepo National Park Set For Major Transformation As Gov’t Launches Multibillion Conservation Drive

By Swift Reporter

The Government has launched a five-year, US$4 million conservation project aimed at protecting wildlife and strengthening livelihoods in communities surrounding Kidepo National Park and the Karenga Wildlife Corridor.

The Kidepo Landscape Integrated Conservation and Development Project (KLICDP 2026–2030) was launched in Kitgum District on Thursday, August 6, bringing together government officials, district leaders, conservation partners and other stakeholders.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the project will be implemented across seven districts and is designed to tackle some of the major threats facing the Kidepo landscape, including human-wildlife conflict, poaching, wildfires and invasive species.

The project was officially launched by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Rtd Col Tom Butime, who was accompanied by the State Minister for Tourism, Susan Nakawuki Nsamba.

Butime urged local government leaders to take an active role in the project, saying the scale of challenges facing the landscape requires cooperation between government, communities and conservation partners.

“There are complex challenges that no single institution can solve alone but require partnership, shared vision with the communities and development partners,” Butime said.

Focus On Wildlife & Communities

Under the project, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) led by Dr James Musinguzi, will strengthen efforts to manage invasive species, prevent and respond to wildfires, improve wildlife protection and reduce conflicts between communities and animals.

The initiative will also support staff capacity building and recruitment as UWA works to implement its organisational structure.

The emphasis on communities is particularly important in the Kidepo landscape, where people living near protected areas frequently come into contact with wildlife.

By addressing the causes and effects of human-wildlife conflict while supporting community livelihoods, the project seeks to create stronger local support for conservation.

UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said lasting conservation solutions would require communities and institutions to work together, particularly as Uganda’s population continues to grow.

“We must work together to find lasting solutions because our population continues to grow while the available land remains the same,” Musinguzi said.

He thanked UNEP and the GEF for supporting Uganda’s conservation efforts and also recognised partners including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for their contribution to UWA programmes.

Tourism Infrastructure To Open Up Kidepo

The conservation project comes at a time when the government is also investing in infrastructure intended to improve access to the Kidepo region and unlock its tourism potential.

Butime pointed to the construction of Kidepo International Airport and the planned Kitgum–Karenga Road as key investments that could make it easier for tourists to access the area.

Improved connectivity, he said, is expected to increase tourist arrivals while creating opportunities for communities and businesses in the surrounding areas.

Kidepo National Park is one of Uganda’s most remote protected areas and is known for its distinctive landscapes and diverse wildlife. However, its remoteness has also presented challenges for tourism development, law enforcement and service delivery.

The new project therefore brings together conservation and development priorities, with the government hoping that stronger protection of the landscape will go hand in hand with greater economic opportunities for communities living around it.

Over the five-year implementation period, KLICDP is expected to strengthen cooperation between UWA, local governments, communities and conservation organisations while improving the resilience of the Kidepo ecosystem.

The initiative ultimately seeks to ensure that protecting wildlife and supporting the people who live alongside it become complementary rather than competing priorities.