(Posted 22nd September 2025)
In a gazette notice has the Ugandan government notified the public that six new national parks have been created, upgraded from their previous status’ as forest of game reserves. While this will improve the legal standing and protection of these areas, now all falling under the Uganda Wildlife Authority – in some cases taken from the National Forest Authority – it now remains to be seen if budgetary allocations to upgrade infrastructure and provide adequate management and security staffing will follow the government announcement.
Presently UWA manages ten national parks, twelve wildlife reserves and other conservation areas. The addition of six more parks will boost UWA’s portfolio but will also increase the financial challenges on UWA’s capacity to fulfill their existi9ng and new mandates.
Among the six areas turned into new national parks four lie within or near Uganda’s western Albertine Rift ecosystems, while two are located in the eastern and southwestern parts of the country..
Kyambura Game Reserve and Kigezi Wildlife Reserves are both upgraded into full national parks. The same upgrade takes place for the Bukaleba Forest Reserve in Mayuge District, Eastern Uganda, previously under the management of the National Forest Authority.
In South Western Uganda it is the Echuya Forest Reserve which is located in both Kisoro and Rubanda districts, now being turned into a full national park.
