Can Kidepo make it four? Uganda’s rangers prepare for wildlife challenge

What the report says

Kidepo Valley’s rangers are preparing to defend their lead in Uganda’s annual Wildlife Ranger Challenge, with the next race scheduled for 19 September at Murchison Falls National Park, according to The Independent Uganda. The Kidepo team has won the 21-kilometre “Race for Wildlife” three years in a row and will again compete against ranger teams from several of Uganda’s protected areas.

The event is meant to reflect the physical demands of frontline conservation work. Four-person teams will start near Pakuba Airstrip and run to the Nile Delta while carrying heavy packs. Alongside Kidepo, teams from Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Bwindi and Pian Upe are expected to take part, as well as community scout units and invited corporate and diplomatic teams.

The Independent Uganda reported that the competition is part of a wider African initiative, with more than 200 ranger teams from 24 countries expected to join the 2026 challenge. The campaign was launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 period and has since focused on ranger welfare, training and equipment, not just the race itself.

The Uganda Conservation Foundation is organizing the event with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and other partners. The paper said the gathering is also intended to highlight the role of rangers in supporting tourism, conservation and local livelihoods, while drawing attention to the resources needed to protect wildlife in the field.