Uganda: Parliament Calls for Probe Into Alleged Killings and Disappearances Involving UWA Rangers

What the report says

Uganda’s Parliament has asked for an independent inquiry into allegations that Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers were involved in killings and disappearances in communities near national parks. The call came from the Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry, which wants the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the Uganda Police Force to investigate reported incidents in Nwoya, Buliisa and Kasese districts and report back within six months.

According to the committee, residents described cases in which rangers allegedly used force against people found, or suspected, inside protected areas without permission. One case cited involved the Koyo Clan in Purongo Sub-county, Nwoya District, where a community member alleged that 11 people had died or gone missing over three years and that bodies were not recovered. The committee said it had not independently verified the claims. UWA has said deaths in national parks are largely linked to clashes with armed poachers.

The proposal reflects wider concern about how conservation enforcement affects nearby communities, especially where people depend on land and natural resources close to protected areas. Lawmakers said unresolved allegations could damage trust between conservation agencies and local residents, whose cooperation is important for wildlife protection and reporting illegal activity.

In the same parliamentary session, legislators also pressed for stronger measures to reduce human-wildlife conflict, including more fencing and other protective barriers around several parks. A state tourism minister told Parliament that fencing has already been installed across large distances, while noting that rangers also face serious risks in the field. The debate highlights the tension between conservation enforcement, community safety and accountability.