Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve | Wildlife Reserves, Uganda
PIAN UPE WILDLIFE RESERVE TRAVEL GUIDE - WILDLIFE RESERVE (UGANDA)
LOCATION OF PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE, UGANDA
Pian Upe is located in the North Eastern part of Uganda in Nakapiripiti district with a total of about 8 other districts either closely or partly covered by the stretch of the game reserve, these districts including: Amudat, Moroto, Katakwi, Napak. Kween, Kumi, Bukedea, and Bulambuli. The wildlife reserve can easily be accessed by road from Kampala capital city via Mbale to Soroti road which takes about 8 to 9 hours and about 4-5 hours from Mbale city town and 5-6 hours from Kidepo national park to Pian Upe wildlife reserve. While in Nakapiripiti, Pian Upe can easily be accessed from the South of Chepsikunya trading Centre or north of Namalu trading centre for visitors travelling from Moroto city. The closest operational airstrip is located in Amudat airstrip.
SOME HISTORY OF PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE, UGANDA
Pian Upe Game Reserve derives its name from the Karamojong local dialect, where “Pian” means “Friendly” and “Upe” means “Enemy.” This remarkable conservation area lies in North - Eastern Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region.
In 1958, the Southern part of the reserve was designated as the Debasien Animal Sanctuary.
However, a government-led project aimed at converting land south of the Greek River for agriculture threatened wildlife conservation in the entire area.
In 1964, the reserve was expanded northward and renamed as the Pian-Upe Game Reserve.