History of the Park
History of Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda varies from its traditional roots through colonial conservation, political turmoil, community conflict and eventual establishment as a national park.
Introduction
Lake Mburo National Park is one of Uganda’s National Parks including a mosaic of lakes, savannah grasslands, woodland and wetland ecosystems. The Park inhabits various wildlife Species such as Burchell’s zebra and impala.
Ancient and Traditional Era: “Kaaro Karungi”
Before formally opened as a National Park, the sprawling grasslands and lakes of the region were part of the ancestral land of the Banyankole pastoralists, especially the Bahima cattle-keeping community.
They referred this territory to as the “Kaaro Karungi” or “Beautiful Land” — a cultural landscape where nomadic grazing patterns of Ankole long-horned cattle maintained the grassland ecosystems and prevent bush encroachment. These pastoral practices were more than livelihood hence a cultural identity and ecological balance.
Oral traditions even speak of mythic origins for Lake Mburo’s name tied to stories of two brothers, one of whom drowned in floods that formed the lake — a symbolic tale illustrating how the landscape became what it is today.
Colonial and Early Conservation: Controlled Hunting and Game Reserve (1930s–1960s)
In 1933, under British colonial administration, the area was initially gazetted as a controlled hunting area (protected land)but pastoralists still grazed their cattle here.
This designation aimed to regulate wildlife use and reduce conflict over game, but it was not a true protected park in modern terms. The local communities proceeded with traditional grazing largely uninterrupted for more than the next three decades, settlement in and around the area increased, especially as political upheavals in post-independence Uganda encouraged inward migration and land competition.
By 1963, the area was upgraded to a game reserve offering a higher level of protection for wildlife, though people were still permitted to graze cattle under permits. These early conservation efforts reflected broader shifts in East Africa to protect wildlife and open space, but also sowed the seeds for later conflict over land use rights.
Marked by intense civil conflict as the Milton Obote’s government faced turbulent battles/wars with rebel forces.
The decision to elevate Lake Mburo to national park status in 1983 was partly political directed to weakening the influence of the Banyankole pastoralists who were perceived to support anti-Obote fighters.
Forced Evictions and Resentment
During the gazetting period, pastoralist families were expelled from their grazing lands without compensation or resettlement support.
What had been open rangeland historically used for centuries became fenced out, depriving communities of both economic sustenance and cultural identity.
As a result, resentment toward the park was intense and widespread. Many pastoralists refused to leave, leading to forced removals that deepened hostility.
Return, Degazettement, and Reconfiguration (1985–1986)
The end of the second Obote regime in 1985 opened the door for reclaimed land:
Former residents re-entered the park regions, expelling park staff, destroying infrastructure and killing wildlife as a form of resistance.
The incoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) government in 1986 re-gazetted the park, but with much reduced boundaries less than half of the original area.
What followed was one of Uganda’s first major experiments with holistic park re-establishment, but also one that acknowledged the need to integrate local land uses and mitigate social conflict.
Land Reform and Community Integration (Late 1980s–1990s)
After the re-establishment of the national park
Land Redistribution
Outside the new borders of Lake Mburo National Park, rangeland was divided into small ranches and subsistence farming plots to absorb displaced pastoralists and reduce pressure on the protected area.
Resettlement Schemes
Schemes such as the Kanyaryeru Resettlement Scheme (late 1980s) granted land to some former residents, integrating them into new agricultural patterns and easing pressure on the park itself.
Despite these efforts, tensions persisted: land scarcity, competition between livestock grazing and wildlife, and invasive vegetation encroachment continue to shape park management into the present.
Modern Conservation and Co-existence
Today, Lake Mburo National Park represents a blend of conservation and community engagement:
The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), offering standard wildlife protection and tourism infrastructure.
Conservation efforts increasingly focus on community tourism, shared revenue projects, and habitat restoration to balance ecological needs with human development.
Interestingly, in areas near park fringes, pastoral cattle are still visible alongside wildlife — a testament to hybrid land-use landscapes that reflect both tradition and modern conservation.
Legacy and Significance
Lake Mburo National Park’s history offers key lessons in conservation planning:
The importance of inclusive land management that respects Indigenous rights and livelihoods.
The need for adaptive policy in contexts of political instability and social change.
How cultural practices like pastoral grazing can support ecological integrity when harmonized with biodiversity goals.
Lake Mburo today stands not just as a wildlife haven, but as a living record of Uganda’s evolving relationship between people, land, and nature.
About Us
We are situated ideally a few kilometers off Kampala offering amazing Wildlife Safaris to all travelers
on safari Holiday as they watch Uganda’s wildlife animals as they wander around their natural vegetation habitat.
Places to Visit
Murchison Falls National Park
Bwindi Forest National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kibale Forest National Park
Contact Us
Address: After Mbarara Town Uganda
Contact No: +256-760-929-284
Email Us: info@lakemburonationalpark.com