The Uganda Carnivore Program is dedicated to the monitoring, research, and conservation of predators in Uganda. Our current focus is primarily in the northern sector of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.  We are working hard to find solutions for both the wildlife and the people of this area.

The Uganda Carnivore Program (UCP) is a multi-disciplinary organization, devoted to the research and conservation of Uganda's large carnivores, including lions, leopards, and hyenas.

UCP began as the Uganda Large Predator Project in the 1990s when the Director of Uganda’s Institute of Ecology became concerned that the canine distemper virus epidemic that was decimating predators in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park would affect the predators in Uganda.  While lions in Uganda were dying, research showed that they did not have canine distemper but were instead being poisoned.  It was then was decided that consistent monitoring and research of the predator population should continue.  The program was once active in many of Uganda’s national parks, but at the moment, occurs primarily in the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.  We closely collaborate with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Makerere University.

Over time, as activities expanded into community conservation, and other partnerships were created, we evolved into the Uganda Carnivore Program.

We have two primary focuses:

scientific research and monitoring of resident carnivores
community-based wildlife conservation