A herd of elephants crossing Nwoya-Pakwach highway road from the park into the community land. Photos by Simon Wokorach
By Simon Wokorach
Nwoya: The elevating scenery of the Albert Nile lowers your eyes to the natural wonders north of Murchison Falls National Park a dispersal and migratory home to wildlife, where the Aswa River Conservancy Sanctuary sits.
The sanctuary lies east of the Nile, sharing a direct border with Murchison Falls National Park as it intersects with rolling grasslands, creeks, valleys, and stretches of papyrus swamps.
Trekking through the swampy vegetation and scattered trees, Wilfred Bwonpapa not only adores nature but also recalls its devastating impacts on both people and animals.
The area was declared a game reserve by the colonial government in 1952 but lost its status in 1972 after being de-gazetted under Idi Amin’s regime.
The land, measuring about 500,000 hectares according to Uganda Wildlife Safaris, stretches across the districts of Nwoya and Amuru in northern Uganda.
Years later, this once-lost animal sanctuary now stands dotted with farms. Lethal and brutal conflicts rage on, straining relations between humans and wildlife as both sides suffering casualties.
The Conflicts
The Nwoya District Production Department reported crop losses to elephants between 2023 and August 2025, affecting 5,000 households along the park’s border.
The district has also recorded 15 human deaths caused by elephants in the last three years, with more than 40 people sustaining injuries from related conflicts.
A recent incident on August 24, 2025, claimed the lives of two women in Obira Village, Got Apwoyo Sub-county, near the banks of the River Nile the epicenter of this human-wildlife tension.
With her eight-month-old child on her back, the late Scovia Ayiyorwoth, aged 26, left home early to collect firewood near the park’s border with her two sisters.
They were surrounded by a herd of elephants. Realizing the danger, Ayiyorwoth threw her baby a short distance away before the elephants trampled her to death.
Miraculously, the baby survived unharmed. However, Doreen Akumu, aged 46, also perished in the attack. Their bodies were carried home amid grief.
The deceased’s sister, Maculata Mandhawun, who survived the ordeal, is still struggling with trauma and crop losses.
Maculata noted that just a month earlier, she had lost five acres of cassava to elephants. On that fateful day, they had gone to fetch firewood to sell and buy maize flour to feed their family.
“It’s been brutal for my family. We’ve lost three people to elephants. Sad! Yet it’s the only land we have. We buried loved ones and lost our crops too,” Maculata said tearfully.
The Area Local Council I Chairperson, Geoffrey Odaga, acknowledged the hostility the community faces from their giant wildlife neighbors.
Odaga revealed that over the last 12 years, elephants have killed eight people in his area alone, underscoring the urgent need to address ongoing human-wildlife conflicts.
He noted that population growth has increased pressure on the park, forcing people to settle along wildlife corridors as farmland diminishes further fueling conflict.
“We’ve lost eight people, but we can’t even quantify the damage to crops. If you delay here, you’ll see elephants soon,” Odaga said, pointing to the nearby park boundary.
According to Dr. Patrick Atimnedi, Senior Manager of Veterinary Services at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the conflicts have become deadly for both humans and animals. He has lost count of the number of wild animals killed.
Dr. Atimnedi explained that many animal killings are “revenge attacks” by communities who lose their crops, while others are orchestrated by poachers using snares.
Daily anti-poaching operations in Murchison Falls Park reveal significant numbers of wire snares and heavy metal traps targeting wildlife.
“The park faces a serious poaching challenge. We still lose about three animals every day, though we also rescue and treat many caught in traps,” he said.
During President Iddi Amin’s regime in 1970’s, wildlife came under serious threat as certain animal spices like elephants were killed for their tusks. For instance, UWA report indicate that elephants total population dropped from 15,000 to 500 which has now risen to 5,000.
As their numbers now begin to recover, habitats continue to shrink. UWA is currently conducting a habitat analysis in the Nwoya Community Park to determine if species such as chimpanzees and gorillas can thrive there.
Once the study concludes, UWA plans to reintroduce various wildlife species to create a more conducive environment for their growth.
Restoring Hope
While UWA is currently enclosing the park’s boundary with electric fencing, earlier interventions to manage conflicts have not been very effective.
Over the years, struggling communities have relied on community scouts to guard their crops, dug trenches, and planted chili along buffer zones.
Under the umbrella of the River Aswa Wildlife Conservancy, a group of landowners has developed a new model of land use since farming can no longer coexist with wildlife.
Seventy landowners jointly contributed 64,000 hectares from the former sanctuary, turning it into a community wildlife private park.
The land was part of the former Aswa-Olilim Game Reserve, and UWA granted a concession agreement to the community in 2013 within the wildlife corridors.
Commissioned in July 2018, UWA estimates that the Aswa River Conservancy supports about 47% of the area’s flora and fauna.
Section 15 of the Uganda Land Act provides for communal land associations under which communities can benefit meaningfully from their land.
Similarly, under the UWA 2019 Users’ Rights, individuals or communities can utilize wildlife resources for economic, scientific, or recreational purposes including sports hunting and wildlife farming.
The Conservancy Chairperson, Wilfred Bwonpapa, is optimistic that this model will enhance livelihoods and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
He noted that although revenue collection is yet to begin, 22 elephants, about 700 Uganda kobs, and other endangered species already inhabit the conservancy.
“We hope that our farmers who have been losing crops to wildlife will find new opportunities through this community initiative. Let this model bring us new life,” Bwonpapa said.
One of the group’s members, William Olwoch Lalobo, highlighted how such innovations can transform community livelihoods and boost Uganda’s economy.
He said investing in community tourism would position Uganda to meet the growing global demand for authentic experiences.
“The park is within our community tourists will come, sleep in our hotels, and eat our local foods. They love our crafts; these are our resources,” Lalobo added.
To contain wildlife within the conservation area, Lalobo said new plant varieties have been introduced to prevent animals from straying in search of food.
He described community tourism as a shift from direct farming which is increasingly threatened by wildlife to tapping economic value from the park itself.
“Why can’t we earn from these animals, buy food, start businesses, and live better lives instead of losing everything to them?” he asked.
Lalobo, however, noted that the central government has long dominated wildlife management.
“People think the animals belong to the government, so they don’t care about wildlife,” he said.
He argued that with ample land in northern Uganda, investing in tourism through community conservancies could diversify the region’s economy.
“If crops are affected by harsh weather, what other options do we have? Why not keep the animals instead? The land is here how do we use it if farming no longer pays?” Lalobo questioned.
A New Conservation Model
UWA Conservation Education Officer Wilson Kagoro commended local conservancy initiatives for protecting national treasures.
He noted that while conservation has traditionally been government-led, the private sector holds immense potential to invest in conservation and market Uganda globally through tourism linkages.
“Tourism in Kenya is strong because private individuals invest in conservancies. They keep animals on private land where tourists pay directly. We still need more people to join local conservancies,” Kagoro emphasized.
Under the Uganda Wildlife Act, 20% of park entry fees are remitted to local governments surrounding conservation areas for community development.
Since 2019, billions of shillings have been shared, including nearly UGX 3 billion received by Nwoya District Local Government.
Kagoro noted that while revenue-sharing supports livelihoods and social services, local conservancies allow communities to exclusively benefit from revenues generated on their lands.
“They aren’t competitors they build roads, improve services, and protect wildlife while transforming their communities. The private sector is our ally,” he remarked.
He added that while park revenues mainly benefit neighboring communities, those within wildlife dispersal and migratory corridors can benefit through sports hunting.
Currently, UWA has granted Uganda Wildlife Safaris a concession for sports hunting. Kagoro encouraged people to view it as an alternative land use that brings resources for sustainable conservation.
Of the revenues generated, 45% goes directly to the landowner, while the local government receives 10%, district local government associations 10%, and UWA 10%.
Kagoro expressed optimism that as local conservancies expand, poaching will decline since communities now have a financial incentive to protect wildlife.
“If there’s enough land for animals, we’ll assess its suitability and work with them. The goal is to sustain ecosystems and livelihoods,” he said.
Through sports hunting, in 2022/2023, UWA collected UGX 2.3 billion nationwide, shared among community wildlife associations, landowners, and local governments.
At Aswa River, the hunting block received UGX 60 million (USD 17,420); community associations received UGX 72 million (USD 20,790); landowners UGX 20 million (USD 5,870); UWA UGX 16 million, and Nwoya District UGX 7.2 million.
Drawing lessons from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District, Kagoro said Uganda has learned the value of private investment in conservation.
“It started with only six rhinos now there are 48. That’s good for wildlife, ecosystems, and our economy,” he said.
However, Kagoro remains cautious about Aswa River’s suitability for gorillas and chimpanzees due to its low-lying landscape, though lions, buffaloes, and kobs can thrive there.
Tourism and Uganda’s Economy
With international tourism rebounding, Uganda’s performance has stood out with a 7.7% increase in arrivals and a 25.9% rise in tourism earnings.
In 2024, Uganda welcomed 1,371,895 international visitors, reaching 89.2% of pre-pandemic levels, driven by strategic marketing, partnerships, and investment in infrastructure and conservation.
According to an April 2025 Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities report, the sector contributed UGX 6.06 trillion and created 803,000 jobs across formal and informal sectors.
International tourism receipts grew to UGX 4.8 trillion (USD 1.28 billion), up from USD 1.025 billion in 2023 accounting for 16% of Uganda’s total exports and underscoring the importance of wildlife protection.
Under Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), tourism is identified as an anchor sector for job creation, improved living standards, and inclusive national development.
