Pian Upe Game Reserve

Pain Upe is the largest game reserve in Uganda, and the second largest protected area second after the famous Murchison Fall National Park.

  With a total area of approximately 2043sq.Km, Pian Upe is Ugandas largest game reserve, and home to the roan Antelope – the only place you can see them in Uganda.

The game reserve borrows it name from two pastoral tribes; Pain – the Karamajngo speaking tribe that inhabited the southern section of the present-day Pain Upe Game Reserve, and the Upe a Kalenjin speaking Tribe of Pokot people believed to have originated from Kenya.

The present-day reserve was a battle group for the two tribes ( Karamojong & the Pokot) both fighting for authoritative control over pastoral grounds to graze their livestock.

The meaning of Pain Upe:

Pain means “good spirited people“, and Upe means “Enemy“.  Present-day Pian Upe game reserve originally belonged to the Karamojong Tribe, before the Pokot from Kenya evaded to fight for grazing land for their cattle. The Fights between the Karamojong and Pokot included and were not limited struggle for grazing land but also involve d daily raids to steal livestock. The main highway cutting through present-day Pain Upe Reserve connecting Mbale town and Moroto became the boundary for each of the tribes with the Karamojong controlling the southern part and the North remaining under the Pokot.

The good news is that the two tribes have over the years inter-married and now live in reasonable peace…

Pian Upe Game Reserve is now fully protected by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and might in a couple of years be upgraded from a game reserve to a National park. There is On-going plans to replenish the plains with animals like giraffes 7 lions believed to have lived in this part but were hunted to extinction.

The biggest threat to the flora & fauna of Pain upe Reserve i habitat loss, and hunting 

A visit to Pain Upe is definitely an offbeat Experience since not many tourists visit this game reserve.