Pian Upe Wildlife reserve is located in the northeastern semi-arid part of Uganda, spanning a land area of 2043 sqkm. It is undisputedly the largest wildlife reserve in the country and the second largest protected area in Uganda, after the Murchison Falls National Park, also one of the most picturesque points in the country.
- This reserve lies within the Karamoja sub-region of northeastern Uganda and it is regarded as the second largest conservation area in the country after Murchison Falls National Park.
- It covers an area of 2788 square kilometers and lies north of Mount Elgon and currently falls under the management of Mount Elgon Conservation Area.
- This nature reserve is set within a semi-arid side of Uganda that normally experiences rainfalls around April and more considerable light rainfall from June to early September but in some years, rainfall is absolute.
- The southern side, it was gazetted as the Debasien Animal Sanctuary in 1958. This is a government led program to convert land just south of the Greek River for agriculture threatened the viability of wildlife conservation in the entire area. Around 1964, the area was extended northward and later renamed Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. On the other side, for dramatic views to plains of this reserve Mount Kadama is the best place for you. It stands at elevation of about 3068 meters east of the reserve’s boundary.
There are 2 pastoralist tribes that are found here that the reserve derived its name. The Pian which falls on the Karamoja side and Upe on the Kalenjin speaking people also known as Pakot in Kenya.
All About the Pian Upe Game Park
The largest part of the reserve is still undisturbed grassland and wood grassland. There are 2 pastoralist tribes that are found here that the reserve derived its name. The Pian which falls on the Karamoja side and Upe on the Kalenjin speaking people also known as Pakot in Kenya.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve joins a series of two other protected areas like Mount. Elgon National Park and the Matheninko & Bokora Wildlife Reserve in northeastern Uganda to form the Mount. Elgon Conservation Area, which is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in line with its mandate to conserve for future generations.
What does Pian Upe Mean
Pian refers to a subgroup or clan among the Karamajong people of northeastern Uganda. They are predominantly pastoralists, who live a very traditional style of life and whose being is centered around their cattle. This group is mostly found in Nakapiripirit district close to the Reserve Headquarters.
Upe, on the other hand, refers to a Kalenjin speaking pastoralist community that is reported to have originated from among the Pokot tribe of Kenya, and now settles close to the reserve in Amudat district.
Other accounts reveal that “Pian” is a Karamajong word which loosely translates to mean “good spirited people, or people with calm hearts”; while “Upe” is a word used by the Pokot tribe to mean “enemy”. Combine the two words and you’ll get the phrase “Friendly Enemy”. Quite obscure, huh!?
Some translations also suggest that the two tribes (Karamajongs and Pokots) use the words Pian and Upe respectively to connote “The land of endless plains”.
Where is Pian Upe?
A total of nine northern Uganda districts are known to either be partly or nearly entirely covered by this stretch of a game reserve. These include Amudat, Nakapiripirit, Bukedea, Kween, Moroto, Katakwi, Napak, Kumi and Bulambuli districts.