Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officially launched the State of Wildlife Resources in Uganda Report 2026, a landmark national publication presenting the most comprehensive current assessment of Uganda’s wildlife (floral and fauna) populations, diversity and trends, habitat conditions, emerging threats and conservation responses across the country.

Unlike previous wildlife status assessments that largely concentrated on selected mammal populations, the 2026 report provides a broader national biodiversity account by consolidating data on flora, fungi, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, bats and other mammals, thereby offering a fuller scientific picture of the health of Uganda’s natural heritage.

The publication, now available on https://ugandawildlife.org/publications/, shows that Uganda continues to register measurable progress in biodiversity conservation through species recovery, strengthened ecosystem protection, improved habitat interventions and modernization of wildlife monitoring systems.

Uganda remains one of Africa’s most biologically diverse countries, supporting over 18,000 recorded species of flora and fauna, including over 4,800 species of native plant species, more than 1,000 bird species, globally significant mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants and giraffes, all of which are vital for ecosystem stability, water regulation, climate resilience and future agricultural adaptation.

The report particularly highlights the growing conservation significance of Uganda’s flora, documenting threatened indigenous cycads, crop wild relatives of coffee, finger millet, pearl millet, sorghum and eggplants, as well as several foods, medicinal, fuel, and construction plant species whose habitats are increasingly under pressure from land conversion, invasive species spread, agricultural expansion and climate-related changes.

These plant resources, some of which are strictly endemic to Uganda, are identified as critical national genetic assets for food security, ecological restoration and biodiversity resilience. On the animal population front, the latest surveys indicate continued positive recovery among several species under active conservation management.

Buffalo populations increased from 32,235 in 2021–2022 to 41,548 in 2023–2025, hippopotamus populations rose from 8,226 to 9,026, Uganda kob from 166,526 to 175,109, waterbucks from 16,638 to 22,623, zebras from 17,762 to 20,942, topis from 1,805 to 3,809, common elands from 3,510 to 3,619, while Nubian giraffes increased from 2,414 to 2,519 during the same period.

Uganda has also continued to register one of the continent’s most notable species recovery successes especially the Southern White Rhinoceros population, which increased from 43 to 61 rhinos under sustained breeding and protection management. Uganda’s international standing as a key great ape conservation destination remains reinforced, with mountain gorilla numbers remaining stable at 459, while chimpanzee estimates increased from 5,072 to 6,075 across major forest ecosystems.

The report shows that conservation gains are not uniform across all species. While several herbivore populations continue to recover, some flagship wildlife populations remain under pressure. Elephant populations in monitored Protected Areas declined from 6,621 in 2021–2022 to 6,352 in 2023–2025, while lion numbers reduced from 314 to 291.

This underscores the need for intensified habitat protection, prey base recovery, ecological corridor management and stronger human-wildlife conflict mitigation. The report warns that Uganda’s wildlife remains under significant and growing pressure. Expanding human settlements, agricultural encroachment, infrastructure development, extractive activities and continued fragmentation of wildlife habitats are steadily reducing ecological space for wildlife movement and regeneration.

The report also identifies invasive alien and problematic native plant species, climate variability, illegal wildlife use, unsustainable resource extraction and persistent human-wildlife conflict as major threats affecting both floral and fauna populations. These pressures continue to undermine ecosystem integrity and threaten the long term sustainability of conservation gains if not addressed through sustained investment and coordinated national action.

Launching the report, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Col. Tom Butime, said the publication offers Uganda an evidence-based national account of the status of its wildlife and provides a strong foundation for conservation planning and sustainable development.

“This report demonstrates that conservation is not only about protecting wild animals. It is equally about safeguarding plant life, habitats, ecological services and the natural systems upon which tourism, climate resilience, water security and community livelihoods depend,” Hon. Butime said.

The Chairman of the UWA Board of Trustees, Prof. James Kalema, said the report provides critical scientific evidence needed to guide long-term institutional oversight, conservation investment and policy prioritization. “This report gives us a clear measure of where Uganda is registering returns on conservation investment and where institutional attention must now be intensified. It reinforces the need for sustained financing, stronger ecological monitoring and deliberate long-term protection of the habitats that sustain wildlife,” Prof. Kalema said.

UWA Executive Director, Dr. James Musinguzi, said the report demonstrates Uganda’s steady transition toward science-led and technology-assisted biodiversity management through aerial wildlife surveys, SMART ranger patrol systems, Earth Ranger collar monitoring, camera trapping, digital ecological databases and expanded ecosystem monitoring. “This publication presents a consolidated national account of where Uganda stands in wildlife conservation today. It shows measurable gains in species restoration, stronger monitoring systems, broader ecosystem understanding and clearer identification of the threats that must now be addressed,” Dr. Musinguzi said.

The Executive Director added that UWA will continue strengthening habitat restoration, invasive species management, wildlife disease surveillance, ecological research, plant conservation and strategic partnerships to secure Uganda’s wildlife for future generations. The State of Wildlife Resources in Uganda Report 2026 therefore presents a clear national call for sustained conservation action to secure Uganda’s flora, fauna and ecological systems for generations to come.