Katonga Wildlife Reserve
{{Short description|Wildlife reserve in Uganda}}
{{Infobox Protected area
| name = Katonga Wildlife Reserve
| iucn_category = III
| photo = Katonga forest in Uganda.jpg
| map = Uganda
| relief = yes
| map_caption = Location in Uganda
| map_width = 240
| location = {{flag|Uganda}}
| nearest_city = Ibanda
| coordinates = {{coord|0.24067|N|30.78094|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|211|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| established = 1998
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Uganda Wildlife Authority
}}
The Katonga Wildlife Reserve is a wildlife reserve in western Uganda, along the banks of the Katonga River. The reserve was established in 1998{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Refugee influx increasing human activities on Katonga wildlife reserve. |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/refugee-influx-increasing-human-activities-on-katonga-wildlife-reserve/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=The Independent}} and has approximately {{convert|211|km2|mi2}}. Many of the species of plants and animals in the reserve are unique to its wetland environment. Additionally, the grass species at Katonga Wildlife Reserve include Star grass, Bermuda grass, and Rhodes grass.
Katonga River
{{main|Katonga River}}
The reserve is named after the Katonga River, which primarily flows from the swamps southwest of Lake Wamala towards Lake Victoria in the east, with lesser periodic flows from those same swamps to Lake George in the west.
Location
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2015}}
The reserve is located in the Ibanda and Kamwenge Districts in western Uganda. In Kamwenge, it borders with the Biguli subcounty and part of the Mpara subcounty in Kyenjojo District. The reserve is approximately {{convert|200|km|mi}}, by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The coordinates of the wildlife reserve are 00 02N, 30 25E.
The signposted junction for Katonga is Kyegegwa, which lies on Fort Portal Road, 42 km west of Mubende. From there, a 40 km dirt road heads south to the entrance gate via Mparo and Kalwreni. Kalwreni lies 7 km from the entrance gate. It is also possible to approach Katonga from Kibale National Park via Kamwenge and Ibanda.{{Cite book |last=Briggs |first=Philip |title=Uganda: The Bradt Travel Guide |last2=Roberts |first2=Andrew |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides Ltd |year=2020 |isbn=9781784776428 |edition=9th |pages=176 |language=en}}
Vegetation
File:Course of the rivers in south Uganda in the late Miocene and Today.png
The vegetation of the reserve is mixed savannah with acacia scrubland or woodlands. A large portion of the reserve is either permanent or seasonal wetlands. There are also pockets of riverine and tropical forest.[http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/katonga.asp The vegetation of Katonga Wildlife Reserve] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616162439/http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/katonga.asp |date=June 16, 2008 }}
Wildlife
There are over forty animal species and over 150 bird species within the reserve.[http://ugandatravelguide.com/katonga-wildlife.html Fauna of Katonga Wildlife Reserve] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115181450/http://ugandatravelguide.com/katonga-wildlife.html |date=November 15, 2009 }} The wildlife species within the reserve include:
The reserve is best explored on foot or by river canoe. The Uganda Wildlife Authority maintains a camping site with guides and a restaurant within the reserve.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Protected Areas of Uganda}}
{{Ibanda District}}
{{Kamwenge District}}
{{authority control}}
Category:National parks of Uganda
Category:Biosphere reserves of Uganda
Category:Protected areas established in 1998
Category:1998 establishments in Uganda