Government Establishes New Taskforce to Save Uganda's Declining Lion Population

The Ugandan government has officially inaugurated the Lion and Large Carnivore Conservation Taskforce to coordinate urgent interventions aimed at protecting the country’s dwindling wildlife populations. The newly formed body will tackle ongoing threats facing lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and African wild dogs across various national parks and protected areas.

Inaugurating the taskforce, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, highlighted a troubling drop in the national lion population. Surveys indicate that numbers have fallen from an estimated 373 individuals in 2020 down to 291 between 2022 and 2025. The minister attributed this decline primarily to human-wildlife conflict, habitat encroachment, retaliatory poisonings, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Assessments presented by Carol Asiimwe revealed stark contrasts across different landscapes. While Murchison Falls National Park remains a strong sanctuary with 240 lions recorded in 2022, and Queen Elizabeth National Park has seen a modest rise, other areas face severe crises. Kidepo Valley National Park registered just 12 lions, and locations like Lake Mburo and Toro-Semliki have experienced local extinctions.

To counter these threats, the taskforce will operate under the Large Carnivore Strategic Action Plan for 2024–2034. The decadelong framework aims to achieve a 30 percent increase in viable carnivore populations and cut poaching threats in half through enhanced law enforcement, habitat restoration, and deeper community engagement.

Taskforce chairperson Michael Keigwin accepted the mandate, promising science-driven interventions and close collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and conservation partners. Read the full story on Nile Post.