Uganda's Wildlife Wins: Buffalo Up 29%, Chimps Up 20%

Uganda just proved that coordinated conservation can bring wildlife back from the brink, with multiple species posting double-digit population gains across the country's protected areas.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority's new State of Wildlife Resources Report shows buffalo populations jumping 29%, zebras rising 18%, and chimpanzees climbing 20% thanks to years of focused protection efforts. Impalas recorded the most dramatic comeback at 69%, while Uganda kobs and elands also showed steady growth.

The most remarkable success story belongs to the Southern White Rhinoceros. Once completely extinct in Uganda, the species has now registered a 3% population increase following careful reintroduction efforts in Ajai Game Reserve and Kidepo Valley National Park.

Dr. Caroline Asiimwe, Assistant Commissioner at the Wildlife Authority, credits the gains to improved monitoring and sustained conservation work. Giraffes, waterbucks, and hippopotamuses have also bounced back under coordinated protection programs.

The report tracked wildlife both inside and outside protected areas, painting the most complete picture yet of Uganda's conservation landscape. The data came from surveys conducted between 2023 and 2025, compared against previous counts from 2021 to 2023.

Not every species showed gains. Elephant numbers dipped 4% from 6,621 to 6,352, and lion populations dropped 7%, particularly in the Kidepo region. However, Dr. Asiimwe notes that many animals cross into neighboring Kenya and other countries, making accurate counts challenging.

Elephants tracked in Mount Elgon recently returned and settled since November, raising hopes for improved numbers in the next census. "Wildlife doesn't know about any boundaries," Dr. Asiimwe explained, emphasizing that border movements affect population counts.

The Bright Side

Despite ongoing challenges like invasive plants making monitoring difficult and subsistence poaching continuing in some areas, the overall trajectory points toward recovery. The successful rhino reintroduction shows that even locally extinct species can return with dedicated effort.

Minister of Tourism Tom Butime highlighted wildlife's crucial role as one of Uganda's strongest economic pillars and greatest sources of ecosystem services. The rebounds in multiple species demonstrate that conservation investments pay off when communities and authorities work together over time.

The report shows what's possible when protection becomes a sustained priority rather than a one-time intervention, giving other African nations a roadmap for their own wildlife recovery efforts.