The Wildlife Parks of Western Uganda – created by the Tsetse Fly
A tragic event in Ugandan History made way for the creation of Parks
As you drive along the vast savannah of Murchison Falls, parts of Queen Elizabeth park such as the Ishasha – you do not realize that at one time this area was inhabited by humans. They lived here in villages with 
their cattle and thrived in the areas of Queen Elizabeth Park and Murchison Falls – they pretty much lived in harmony with nature and the wildlife around them. There were about 300,000 people that lived in the areas that are now parks.
Between 1902-1905 over 200,000 people were wiped out by sleeping sickness brought about by the Tsetse fly – the Western Rift Valley became a medical disaster with people dying daily by the hundreds, even the livestock was affected by the scourge of Tsetse fly. When Winston Churchill visited Uganda, visited the Murchison Falls area he found a village with just a handful of people still alive – the rest of the village of 6000 had been wiped out,
The English Colonial government began to evacuate and move the rest of the residents who were still alive and not gone off into eternal slumber – no one in this vast area of the Western (Albertine) Rift Valley – What is now Queen Elizabeth Park, Semliki Valley which is now Semliki Park, Kabwoya Wildlife Reserves, Murchison Falls Park all became devoid of people, of cattle and other livestock only the wild animals remained.
The English Colonial government took advantage of this tragedy in human history that had visited the people of the Western Rift and established wildlife reserves which today are some of the major parks of Uganda such Queen Elizabeth Park which was called Kazinga in the old days, Murchison Falls Park and Semliki National Park.
Today – as you take a game drive at Queen Elizabeth Park, at Semiliki Park and Wildlife Reserve, across the Savannah of Murchison Falls you might not have any idea that the creation of this park (at first wildlife reserve) is because of an invasion of tsetse flies spreading sleeping sickness to the inhabitants of the area where you are now enjoying the African wild.
Some of you reading this account may wonder if you visiting Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth Park will be attacked by Tsetse flies and nod off into the eternal slumber like the inhabitants of old. In the 21st Century we can take some simple steps to avoid getting bitten by the Tsetse fly –you will not find Tsetse flies in Kampala – Tsetse flies are not as many as there were – not all carry sleeping sickness (I had the blood sucked out of me by one and I am still around 5 years later) – simply avoid wearing black or blue shirts during daytime. Do wear long-sleeved shirts (when I was bitten it was wearing a long-sleeved jean shirt – stick to Khaki shirts – no shorts. Insect repellent containing deet does not work. The Australian product RID has many enthusiastic fans claiming that it works against Tsetse flies.
Here is the reality- most visitors to Uganda do no get bitten by Tsetse flies following the above advice- none of our clients have come down with sleeping sickness – just remember as you drive across the savannahs of Uganda that the park you are enjoying was because of the most tragic deaths of over 250,000 people in the Western Rift Valley – a tragedy…from Kampala…jon
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” John Hemingway – African Journeys
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