The King of Tooro Kingdom, His Majesty Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has expressed deep concern over the declining population of iconic wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
During a recent visit to the park part of his broader efforts to promote Uganda’s tourism potential through his 25-year development plan His Majesty said he was saddened to learn about the significant drop in wildlife numbers.
Posting on his official X account on Wednesday, the King revealed that only 76 lions remain in Queen Elizabeth National Park, down from an estimated 400.
He added that the country now has approximately 4,000 elephants, around 1,700 buffaloes, over 100 leopards, and roughly 5,000 hippos.
His Majesty was also briefed on the escalating threat of poaching, largely fueled by human-wildlife conflict.
“This is a call to action for all of us,” he stated. “I urge my fellow Ugandans to come together to protect and preserve our wildlife.”
The King encouraged Ugandans to actively engage with the country’s natural heritage by exploring and promoting its beautiful national parks and other tourism destinations.
“By visiting these natural treasures, we can support conservation efforts and contribute to the growth of our tourism industry,” he added.
