Kamapala, Uganda: The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) have entered a landmark conservation partnership that will see up to Shs78.8 billion ($21 million) invested in the management and protection of Kidepo Valley National Park over the next 10 years.
The collaborative management arrangement, approved by the UWA Board of Trustees, is expected to strengthen wildlife conservation efforts in Uganda’s most remote national park while supporting community livelihoods and biodiversity protection across the wider Kidepo Valley Conservation Landscape.
According to a letter dated April 9, 2026, addressed to AWF Uganda Country Director Rose Ssebatindira, UWA Executive Director James Musinguzi confirmed that the UWA Board had endorsed the Collaborative Management Partnership (CMP) proposal and authorized management to proceed with developing a detailed implementation framework.
“Following your presentation of the proposed CMP to the Uganda Wildlife Authority Board of Trustees on April 8, 2026, the Board approved the Kidepo Valley Conservation Landscape CMP and authorized UWA to work with AWF to develop a detailed Business Plan to facilitate fundraising and implementation of the CMP,” Musinguzi wrote.
Kidepo Valley National Park, located in northeastern Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region, is one of Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas, renowned for its rugged savannah landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique ecosystems bordering South Sudan and Kenya.
AWF Commits Shs78.8 Billion
Under the proposed arrangement, AWF will immediately commit $1 million (approximately Shs3.8 billion) to kick-start the design and implementation phase of the partnership.
The conservation organisation has also pledged an additional $20 million (approximately Shs75 billion) over the next decade, bringing the total planned investment to $21 million (Shs78.8 billion).
The funding is expected to support wildlife conservation, ecosystem restoration, community engagement programmes, anti-poaching operations and landscape-level biodiversity protection initiatives.
UWA says the partnership extends beyond the boundaries of Kidepo Valley National Park and will cover the broader Kidepo Valley Conservation Landscape.
The initiative will incorporate the Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area, selected Central Forest Reserves and other critical biodiversity hotspots within the region.
“Together, we aim to transform the Kidepo Valley Conservation Landscape into a resilient ecosystem and sustainable protected area that contributes to Uganda’s socio-economic development while promoting conservation and sustainable livelihoods for local communities,” Musinguzi said.
Building on Existing Conservation Work
AWF already has an extensive footprint in Uganda’s conservation sector through programmes targeting wildlife crime, anti-poaching operations, conservation education and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Among its notable initiatives is the Canines for Conservation Programme, which deploys trained sniffer dogs and handlers at Entebbe International Airport to detect illegal wildlife products.
The foundation has also partnered with UWA and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to strengthen wildlife crime investigations and prosecutions.
In areas affected by human-wildlife conflict, AWF supports local wildlife scouts with deterrent tools and protective equipment while promoting wildlife-friendly agricultural enterprises such as sustainable chilli and cotton farming.
To manage the anticipated investment, UWA and AWF plan to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee implementation, financial management and reporting.
According to Musinguzi, the SPV will provide a transparent mechanism for managing CMP funds while ensuring accountability and efficient execution of conservation activities. “We recognize the importance of establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle to ensure transparent management of CMP funds, efficient implementation and scalable investment,” he said.
Conservation Financing Model
Dr Musinguzi described AWF as a strategic partner with proven expertise in mobilising conservation financing, facilitating master planning and implementing people-centred conservation approaches.
“We are confident that AWF’s experience in transboundary and landscape-level conservation, strategic partnerships and investment mobilization will be instrumental in achieving the goals of the CMP.”
The agreement is still subject to approval by Uganda’s Attorney General Dr Sam Mayanja before the parties formally sign a long-term co-management framework.
Once approved and implemented, the arrangement could become one of Uganda’s largest conservation financing partnerships and a model for collaborative protected area management in East Africa.
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