Uganda, often hailed as the “Pearl of Africa,” is a landlocked country in East Africa known for its significant biodiversity and wide array of ecosystems. Despite covering only about 0.18% of the global land area, Uganda harbors around 10% of the world’s bird species and 7% of the mammal species. This rich biodiversity is spread across diverse habitats, including tropical rainforests, savannas, wetlands, and several large lakes, including Lake Victoria, the largest tropical lake in the world.

From the mist-covered mountains of the southwest, home to the endangered mountain gorillas, to the expansive grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park, teeming with wildlife such as lions, elephants, and giraffes, Uganda offers a stunning variety of landscapes that support diverse creatures. Additionally, the country’s numerous water bodies are habitats for unique aquatic species and provide critical resources for migratory birds.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	57.18	67	N/A
Land Management	55	88	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	50	117	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	33	148	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	45	125	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	85	144	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	41	84	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	74	26	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	78	18	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	85	112	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	97	59	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	34	64	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)
Depleted Fisheries
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas
Invasive Species Pressure	98	62	N/A
Capacity and Governance	60	120	N/A
Total Management Cost	100	25	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	56	35	N/A
Conservation Legislation	32	130	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	30	124	N/A
Control of Corruption	30	141	N/A
Government Effectiveness	38	118	N/A
Future Trends	36	129	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	36	129	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Uganda features a rich and varied landscape, including 10 national parks, 8 wildlife reserves, 4 wildlife sanctuaries, and 9 Ramsar sites, collectively spanning 39,059 km² (15,081 mi²) of the country’s terrain. The national parks are particularly famous for their vast biodiversity and offer unique opportunities for wildlife viewing. Among the standout parks are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, known for its mountain gorillas, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, celebrated for its wide range of animal species. Additionally, Central Forest Reserves account for 24% of Uganda’s total land area, playing a vital role in conserving biodiversity and delivering critical ecosystem services.

Threats to Biodiversity

Biodiversity loss in Uganda is driven by numerous factors, with human population growth at the core, increasing land demand and pressure on natural resources. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, mining, and urban settlements, coupled with climate change impacts, over-fishing, and disease contribute significantly to species decline or extinction.

Additionally, the introduction of alien species, pollution, and ineffective national policies exacerbate the situation. Protected areas face specific threats from local communities not valuing the biodiversity these areas preserve, influenced by urgent needs for land, woodfuel, and income. This multi-faceted crisis highlights the urgent need for sustainable and effective conservation strategies in the region.

Capacity and Governance

Uganda has implemented a comprehensive legal and policy framework for biodiversity management, anchored in its 1995 Constitution which mandates the state to protect natural resources on behalf of its citizens. Key national policies like the 1994 National Environment Policy set out the institutional structures and policy measures for managing biodiversity. Uganda supports these policies with specific legislation such as the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act of 2003 and various sector-specific policies including those for agriculture, fisheries, and wildlife.

The country’s biodiversity efforts are coordinated by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and are currently guided by the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan II, covering 2015-2025. Furthermore, Uganda is a participant in multiple international agreements aimed at biodiversity conservation, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, demonstrating its commitment to global environmental standards.

Future Trends

Uganda’s biodiversity strategy is closely aligned with its National Vision 2040, supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as meeting the natural resource management goals of the East African Community. The country has strengthened its international commitments by adhering to agreements like the Cartagena Protocol, enhancing its ability to conserve biodiversity. Key strategies include the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan II (NBSAP 2), which focuses on raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity, improving stakeholder coordination, and enhancing research and monitoring capabilities.

Additionally, Uganda has implemented the Biodiversity Finance Plan in 2019 to secure funding for these initiatives. These efforts aim to manage biodiversity impacts, promote sustainable use, ensure equitable sharing of benefits, and increase educational efforts on biodiversity conservation.

Biodiversity

Uganda, positioned along the equator in Eastern Africa, spans an area of 236,000 km² (91,120 mi²), comprising 82% dry land, 14% open water, and 4% permanent swamp. Recognized as one of the world’s most biodiverse nations, it hosts remarkable wildlife, including 53.9% of the global population of mountain gorillas, 11% of the world’s bird species (50% of Africa’s bird species), 7.8% of global mammal diversity, 19% of Africa’s amphibians, and 14% of Africa’s reptiles.

Moreover, Uganda records 1,249 species of butterflies and 300 fish species. Its economy heavily relies on biodiversity, supporting sectors like fishing, tourism, livestock, medicinal plant use, and ecotourism. Beyond direct economic benefits, biodiversity resources also support Uganda’s most vulnerable populations.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Uganda only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	367 (#21)	31	8.4%	3	0.8%
Birds	1,00 (#16)	33	3.3%	1	0.1%
Reptiles	186 (#53)	4	2.2%	2	1.1%
Amphibians	63 (#49)	2	3.2%	2	3.2%
Fishes	292 (#152)	74	25.3%	21	7.2%
Plants	4,579 (#73)	64	1.4%	4	0.1%