Uganda reports gains in key wildlife populations amid rising pressures

Uganda has recorded increases in populations of key wildlife species, including Ugandan kobs, buffaloes, impalas, elephants and zebras, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), in its State of Wildlife Resources in Uganda Report 2026, said the gains have been registered over the past decade.

"These positive trends highlight increasingly tight law enforcement, focused species recovery programs, improved ranger capabilities and the application of technology-enabled tools to monitor species," the report said.

It added that investments in intelligence-led patrols and coordinated enforcement have improved protection outcomes, while expanded human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures, including electric fencing, trenches, beehive barriers, rapid response teams and community wildlife scouts, have reduced incidents in many high-risk areas.

However, the report noted mixed trends across species. Lion numbers have declined from an estimated 373 in 2020 to 291 in the 2022/2023 census, a drop linked to poisoning related to livestock predation, snaring, illegal trade in lion parts, cultural demand for lion skins, habitat degradation and encroachment.

Despite gains in some large mammal populations, the report warned that wildlife remains under increasing pressure from human activity, including rapid population growth, land-use change, climate variability and competing development needs.

It noted that while large-scale organized poaching has declined compared with past decades, small-scale subsistence poaching, illegal fishing, forest resource extraction and local trade networks continue to exert significant pressure on wildlife.

According to UWA, wildlife resources are a key component of the country's natural capital, supporting conservation, tourism, rural livelihoods, ecosystem services and national development.