Kidepo
Tucked into Uganda’s northernmost boundary with Kenya and South Sudan, the Kidepo landscape has more than 30 protected and conserved areas, including three national parks. At approximately 135,000 square kilometers, it is one of the region’s most intact conservation landscapes. Challenges include human-wildlife conflict, climate change, agricultural expansion, livestock encroachment, gold and oil extraction, infrastructure development, and poaching.
Our partner communities are spread across 956 square kilometers of community wildlife areas and six districts—Karenga, Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Kitgum, and Agago—meaning we reach 370,000 people over 9,500 square kilometers.
Our conservation work in this vital landscape includes:
- Empowering communities through training and microenterprise
- Enhancing climate change adaptation and resilience
- Mitigating human-wildlife conflict and implementing species recovery and action plans
- Promoting sustainable land management through conservancies and collaborative land-use planning
- Equipping rangers and providing training in ecological monitoring, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and wildlife law enforcement
- Empowering youth through environmental education and awareness
AWF in Action
AWF and UWA Advance Collaborative Conservation in Uganda’s Kidepo Valley Landscape
AWF and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are developing a Collaborative Management Partnership to strengthen conservation and sustainable development across the Kidepo Valley Conservation Landscape. Building on more than three decades of collaboration, the proposed partnership will support stronger protected-area management, species conservation, community-led conservation and livelihoods, wildlife crime prevention, and sustainable investment. The process is consultative and subject to Government of Uganda review and approval, with communities, local leaders and other stakeholders remaining central to the partnership’s design.
Growing Resilient Livelihoods Through Regenerative Agriculture
In Uganda's Kidepo landscape, cotton farmers are restoring degraded land through regenerative agriculture. By adopting climate-smart farming practices, they are improving harvests, strengthening livelihoods, and helping reduce pressure on wildlife habitats.
Empowering Africa's Next Generation of Conservation Leaders
Across Africa, young conservation leaders are driving community-led solutions that protect wildlife and strengthen livelihoods. Through leadership development and local partnerships, they're building a future where people and nature thrive together.
Reducing Human-Wildlife Conflict Through Community Action
In Uganda's Kidepo landscape, wildlife often moves beyond protected areas into nearby farms, putting both people and wildlife at risk. We train and equip community wildlife scouts with the skills and tools they need to safely respond to conflict and help communities coexist with wildlife.
Engaging Youth in Conservation
In Kidepo Valley, students used to walk up to ten kilometers to school. In 2021, we opened two new schools right in those students’ communities. Our Classroom Africa program gives students the chance to learn about conservation and see it in action through park visits.
We work with the people of Uganda for wildlife. Our strategic, implementing and funding partners include:
Wildlife We Are Protecting
