Why Fencing Murchison Falls Brings Hope for Coexistence

Murchison Falls National Park is a place of wonder: the Nile carving its way through the savannah, elephants moving across the horizon, and the thunder of the falls echoing in the distance. Yet for families living along its borders, daily life has long been defined by risk. Crops are often lost overnight, children walk to school with elephants close by, and evenings are shadowed by buffalo pressing too near.

This year, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has taken an important step to restore balance. More than 81 kilometres of electric fencing now protect communities in Buliisa, Masindi, Nwoya, and Kiryandongo.

For visitors, the change is subtle, but its impact is profound. Each new stretch of fence represents coexistence: elephants, lions, giraffes, and buffalo thriving in their habitats while communities live with greater security.

The work continues. Ten kilometres remain in Buliisa, with more to come in Masindi and Kiryandongo. The long-term vision is ambitious: a boundary of 433 kilometres will one day encircle the park, securing a future where humans and wildlife share the land in harmony.

At Nile Safari Lodge we see this fence not as a barrier but as a bond. To stay here is to step into that story, to watch golden light spill across the Nile, and to know that each moment is part of a greater promise of coexistence.