Efforts to restore order and strengthen the protection of Pian Upe Game Reserve have received a boost with the establishment of a new Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) office in Nakapiripirit District. The office, commissioned on Sunday by Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Minister Tom Butime, is expected to improve UWA’s field operations, strengthen law enforcement and enhance engagement with communities living around the reserve.
Pian Upe has for years faced challenges including encroachment, illegal hunting and livestock grazing inside the protected area. The pressure intensified in 2025 when President Museveni, during his campaigns, allowed pastoralists to temporarily graze their livestock inside the reserve as the government sought a lasting solution to conflicts between communities and wildlife conservation authorities.
The decision attracted herders from the Pian and Pokot communities, who grazed their animals in the reserve with limited interference despite concerns from UWA officials. Wildlife officials said the increasing presence of livestock has affected tourism and wildlife, with animals and tourists being driven away from some parts of the reserve.
UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said Pian Upe and its surrounding landscape have faced persistent encroachment and indiscriminate grazing since the reserve was gazetted. “The new office will strengthen protection and management interventions and enhance the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement,” Musinguzi said.
Speaking at the commissioning, Butime commended leaders in the Karamoja region for supporting UWA operations and called for stronger community involvement in conservation. He urged local leaders to intensify sensitisation about the importance of protecting wildlife and discourage communities from killing wild animals.
“Karamoja has become a key contributor to tourism in Uganda. More tourists are now interested in visiting the region because of the peace that has been restored by the joint security forces,” Butime said. Nakapiripirit Resident District Commissioner Bessie Modesta Ajilong urged staff at the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Law Enforcement and Operations Centre to maintain the new facility and promote teamwork and cooperation.
Ajilong also commended the Uganda People’s Defence Forces leadership for contributing to peace and stability in the region, saying improved security has created opportunities for tourism and investment. UWA officials said the Nakapiripirit office is part of wider efforts to restore effective management of Pian Upe, protect its biodiversity and promote tourism as an alternative source of livelihood for communities in Karamoja-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
