Protected Areas in Uganda

In Uganda, the major PAs are National Parks, Wildlife Reserves and Forest Reserves (figure 1). The
first
two are administered by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and the second by National
Forestry Authority Uganda has 712 protected areas covering 39,059 km2 of the land
National parks & Wildlife reserves PAs
Uganda Wildlife Authority, (UWA) manages 10 National Parks; 12 Wildlife reserves; 5 Community
Wildlife Management Areas; and 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries.

National Parks Wildlife reserves Wildlife Sanctuaries. Community

Wildlife
Management
Areas
1. Queen 1. Ajai Wildlife 1. Entebbe Wildlife
Elizabeth Reserve Sanctuary
2. Lake Mburo 2. Bokora Corridor 2. Jinja Wildlife
3. Murchison Wildlife Reserve Sanctuary
Falls 3. Bugungu Wildlife 3. Kazinga Wildlife
4. Kidepo Valley Reserve Sanctuary
5. Kibale 4. East Madi Wildlife 4. Malawa Wildlife
6. Mount Elgon Reserve Sanctuary
7. Rwenzori 5. Kabwoya Wildlife 5. Mount Kei Wildlife
Mountains Reserve Sanctuary
8. Semuliki, 6. Karuma Wildlife 6. Ntoroko-Kanara
9. Mgahinga Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary
Gorilla, 7. Katonga Wildlife 7. Nyaburogo
10. Bwindi Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary
Impenetrable 8. Kigezi Wildlife 8. Otze Forest
National Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary
Parks. 9. Kyambura Wildlife
Reserve
10. Lomunga Wildlife
Reserve
11. Matheniko Wildlife
Reserve
12. Pian Upe Wildlife
Reserve
13. Toro-Semliki
Wildlife Reserve
 Wetlands of International Importance
Uganda boasts a number of wetlands that have been listed as Wetlands of International
Importance under the Ramsar convention. All these sites are recognized by BirdLife International
as Important Bird Areas as well as providing a vital habitat for other threatened plants and animals.
Two of these Wetlands are found in Uganda’s National parks.

Other ramsar sites

Eastern/Northeastern Uganda:
1. Lake Bisina Wetland System
2. Lake Nakuwa Wetland System
3. Lake Opeta Wetland System

Lake Victoria Region:

1. Sango Bay-Musambwa Island
2. Kagera Wetland System
(SAMUKA)
3. Nabajjuzi Wetland System
4. Lutembe Bay Wetland System
5. Mabamba Bay Wetland System

1. Mburo Nakivali System found in Lake Mburo National Park

This unique habitat lies at the convergence of two biological zones, giving it very high biodiversity.It
supports globally threatened species of birds such as the Papyrus Yellow Warbler and Shoebill, and
two of the endangered cichlid fish species which have become extinct in the main lakes.
It is the only area in Uganda in which the impala is found.

1. Albert Delta Wetland System found in Murchison Falls National Park

The site stretches from the top of Murchison Falls to the delta at its confluence with Lake Albert.
The delta forms a shallow area that is important for water birds, especially the shoebill, pelicans,
darters & various heron species. It is also an important spawning & breeding ground for Lake Albert
fisheries, containing indigenous fish species, & it forms a feeding and watering refuge for wildlife
during dry seasons.