Government Launches US$4 Million Kidepo Conservation Project to Strengthen Biodiversity Protection

What the report says

Uganda’s government has launched the Kidepo Landscape Integrated Conservation and Development Project (KLICDP 2026–2030), a five-year, US$4 million program intended to improve biodiversity protection while supporting livelihoods in communities near Kidepo Valley National Park and the Karenga Wildlife Corridor, according to Watchdog Uganda. The announcement was made in Kitgum District on August 6, 2026, at Little Palace Hotel, with officials, district leaders, development partners and conservation stakeholders in attendance.

The project is being led through the Uganda Wildlife Authority and is funded by the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Environment Programme. Watchdog Uganda reported that the initiative will be carried out across seven districts and will target long-running conservation pressures in the Kidepo landscape, including human-wildlife conflict, poaching, invasive species and wildfires.

Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Minister Tom Butime officially launched the project, alongside State Minister Susan Nakuwuki Nsambu. Butime called for cooperation from local leaders and other stakeholders, saying the challenges in the area require coordinated action rather than isolated efforts. He also pointed to wider government investments in tourism infrastructure, including the planned Kidepo International Airport and the Kitgum–Karenga Road.

The project matters because it aims to link environmental protection with community development in a region where wildlife conservation depends heavily on local participation. In general, such integrated programs are often designed to reduce pressure on protected areas while improving the economic case for conservation, though the article did not provide detailed implementation milestones beyond the five-year framework.