By Willy Chowoo
Uganda’s wildlife conservation efforts have taken a bold step forward with the successful translocation of 310 Uganda kobs to Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) and the ongoing preparations to reintroduce Eastern Black and white Rhinos to Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) and Kidepo Valley National Park respectively. These initiatives by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are part of a broader strategy to restore balance in ecosystems, strengthen biodiversity, and boost Uganda’s tourism appeal.
Wildlife translocation is a delicate and complex process, requiring careful planning, ecological assessments, and community engagement. But for conservationists, the results are worth the effort.
“Translocation can play key role in restoring ecological balance in areas where certain species have declined or disappeared due to habitat loss, poaching, other factor, says Bashir Hangi, the spokesperson for UWA.
Mr. Hangi notes that, “reintroducing these species can help re-establish ecological functions such as seeds dispersal, grazing, or predation, which are crucial in maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems”. These translocations also contribute to Uganda’s growing reputation as a leading wildlife tourism destination.”
Odokorwot Walter, a Ugandan conservationist, says the translocation of wildlife goes beyond just restoring ecosystems; it also helps mitigate potential threats. “For instance, in Murchison Falls National Park, where there is significant oil activity, no one knows what will happen in the future. The translocated population may have a better chance of survival,” he explained.
Reviving Kidepo: 536Uganda Kobs Find a New Home
Kidepo Valley National Park, located in northeastern Uganda, is one of the country’s most scenic but least visited parks. Despite its rich biodiversity, the park had experienced a decline in Uganda kob populations due to past poaching and habitat loss.
To restore the balance, UWA translocated 200 Uganda kobs (175 females and 25 males) from Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve in Murchison Falls Conservation Area (MFCA) to Kidepo in the 2022/2023 financial year. Adding to 110 Uganda kobs translocated early in 2017.
In 2024, UWA in also translocated 226 Kobs and 50 Buffaloes to Ajai Game Reserve in Madi-Okollo district,
According to UWA ecologists, the translocation was aimed at increasing genetic diversity in the park’s kob population, strengthening the prey base for carnivores like lions, which depend on herbivores for survival and enhancing biodiversity and improving ecosystem balance.
“The kobs adapted well after their release,” says Richard Muhabwe, a wildlife officer in Kidepo. “We have already observed breeding among the females, which is a strong indication of success.”
For local tour operators, the kob translocation is a game-changer, “seeing a growing population of antelopes makes the park even more attractive to tourists,” says tour guide John Ouma. “Lions and other big cats now have more food, meaning visitors are more likely to see exciting wildlife interactions.”
Since a previous kob translocation in 2017, the population in Kidepo has steadily grown, demonstrating the effectiveness of UWA’s intervention. “Our estimate as of 2025 is 500, they are multiplying very fast because we have not encountered poaching and climate change”, notes Muhabwe, the chief warden at Kidepo Valley NP.
Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley Prepare for Rhinos
Rhinos once roamed Uganda’s savannahs, but by the 1980s, poaching had wiped them out in the wild. Today, Uganda’s only rhino population survives in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a private conservation area home to 38 Southern White Rhinos.
To bring rhinos back to the wild, UWA has been working on an ambitious reintroduction project for Eastern Black Rhinos in Murchison Falls National Park.
UWA conducted feasibility studies in 2018/2019, and they confirmed that Murchison Falls is a suitable habitat for the return of black rhinos.
According to Bashir Hangi, UWA’s spokesperson, the initiative follows extensive ecological studies and at this stage is too early to tell when shall Eastern Black Rhinos be brought at MFNP. “This is too early to talk about, a lot is being planned but not near implementation,” Bashir adds
As the wait for Eastern Black Rhinos at Kidepo Valley National Park continues, preparations are underway to introduce White Rhinos. The park’s chief warden, Muhabwe, says feasibility studies have confirmed that the park can support both Eastern Black and Southern White Rhinos. “We are working on the fence, and we may initially begin with the White Rhinos,” he noted.
While preparations are still underway, experts believe that the reintroduction of black rhinos will have a major ecological and economic impact.
“Black rhinos are a keystone species,” says Odokorwot Walter, a wildlife conservationist. “Their return will help restore the natural grazing dynamics in the park, benefiting other herbivores and predators.”
The Impact on Uganda’s Tourism and Conservation
These translocation efforts are not just about restoring species; they are also about boosting Uganda’s tourism potential. The presence of thriving kob populations in Kidepo and rhinos in Murchison Falls will attract more visitors, increasing revenue for conservation and community projects.
Mr. Muhabwe acknowledges that while COVID-19 had an impact, the number of visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park has been steadily increasing over the past years. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), visitor numbers surged by 44% in the 2022/2023 financial year, signaling renewed confidence in Uganda as a top-tier travel destination
Tourism revenue contributes over 7% to Uganda’s GDP, and national parks generate millions of dollars annually. The return of more species means more job opportunities for local communities, from tour guides to lodge staff and conservation officers.
However, translocation also comes with a number of challenges such as high cost, climate change and threats from poachers, however the authority is not bowing down to this. “Every successful translocation strengthens Uganda’s reputation as a conservation leader,” says Muhabwe of Kidepo Valley. “We will continue working with partners to ensure these species not only survive but thrive in their new homes.”
“A more diverse and balanced ecosystem attracts more tourism, which can fund conservation efforts and creates local initiatives to protect wildlife,” Hangi Bashir of UWA.
A New Chapter for Uganda’s Wildlife
Uganda’s translocation efforts are an inspiration of hope for endangered species. By moving wildlife to safer, well-managed environments, UWA is reviving populations, restoring ecosystems, and boosting tourism.
With more than 500 kobs now thriving in Kidepo and plans underway for the return of rhinos to Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley, Uganda’s future as a conservation and wildlife tourism hub looks brighter than ever.
As UWA and conservationists continue their work, one thing is clear: Uganda’s wildlife is not just surviving—it’s making a remarkable comeback.
