UWA begins historic translocation of 200 Uganda Kobs from Murchison Falls to Pian Upe
First phase delivers 37 kobs safely to their new home in Karamoja, in a move officials say will boost wildlife diversity and tourism potential in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched a major translocation exercise to move 200 Uganda kobs from Murchison Falls National Park to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in Karamoja, a project officials say will strengthen wildlife diversity and open new frontiers for tourism in the country’s northeastern circuit.
The exercise, being carried out in phases, is aimed at boosting the kob population in Pian Upe, expanding the animals’ range, and diversifying wildlife populations within the reserve.
UWA says the intervention is also expected to strengthen tourism prospects and deliver economic benefits to communities living around the reserve.
Speaking on the initiative, UWA’s Assistant Commissioner for Veterinary Services, Dr. Patrick Atimnedi, said the translocation is a deliberate conservation intervention designed to give the Uganda kob a wider habitat while enriching the ecological profile of Pian Upe.
“This intervention aims to expand the range of Uganda Kobs, diversify wildlife populations in Pian Upe, and strengthen tourism, with benefits expected to extend to communities neighbouring the reserve,” Dr. Atimnedi said.
FIRST PHASE COMPLETE
UWA has confirmed that the first phase of the translocation has been successfully completed, with 37 Uganda kobs safely transported and released into Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
Wildlife officials have described the milestone as a significant step in efforts to strengthen wildlife populations in the reserve, which has historically supported far lower kob numbers than Uganda’s more established savannah parks.
The remaining kobs are expected to be moved in subsequent phases as the exercise continues, with UWA teams coordinating the capture, transport and release of the animals between the two protected areas.
WHY PIAN UPE
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Uganda’s second-largest protected area, has long been viewed by conservationists and tourism stakeholders as an under-visited gem of the Karamoja sub-region.
Boosting its wildlife numbers through translocations such as this one is seen as a strategic step toward positioning the reserve as a stronger draw for visitors exploring Uganda’s northeastern tourism circuit, alongside attractions such as Kidepo Valley National Park.
A larger and more diverse kob population is expected to improve game-viewing experiences for tourists, while also supporting the reserve’s broader ecological balance.
UWA has indicated that the anticipated rise in visitor interest could translate into direct benefits for neighbouring communities, including opportunities linked to tourism revenue-sharing and local employment.
PART OF WIDER CONSERVATION EFFORTS
The Murchison Falls-to-Pian Upe translocation adds to UWA’s ongoing efforts to redistribute wildlife across Uganda’s protected area network, helping to ease pressure on densely populated parks while restocking reserves with lower animal numbers. 
Murchison Falls National Park, home to one of the country’s largest Uganda kob populations, has served as a source site for similar translocation exercises in the past.
UWA has not yet announced a timeline for the completion of the remaining phases of the exercise, but officials say the translocation will continue until all 200 kobs have been resettled in Pian Upe.
