Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is located in the Karamoja sub-region of North Eastern Uganda. The name “Pian Upe” came from the Karamojong local language, which means “Friendly Enemy.” Pian Upe is under the management of Mount Elgon Conservation Area. Pian Upe was gazetted in 1965 and lies between eight districts. It is one of the threatened wildlife reserves due to uncontrolled grazing and poaching. Increased human-wildlife interactions raise the risk of cross-species transmission and zoonotic disease outbreaks among wildlife, livestock, and people that spread diseases like Brucellosis, Rift Valley fever, tuberculosis, and anthrax.

Pian Upe is regarded as the green belt of the Karamoja region that teams up with wildlife and provides a critical environment for many rare and endangered species in this region, although adversely affected by climate change.

Pian Upe wildlife reserve is home to many wildlife species, which makes it attractive. It is often visited by tourists from all over the world all year round. Pian Upe's wild animals include giraffes, leopards, lions, zebras, greater kudu, buffaloes, Harte beast, topi, oribi, and Uganda’s last population of antelope. Different bird species can also be spotted around the swamp terrains of Loporokocho swamp. Pian Upe bird species include ostriches, Jackson’s Hornbill, Hartlaub’s Bustard, and the white-headed buffalo-weaver. Pian Upe is also rich with vervet monkeys and olive baboons can all be spotted.

Pian Upe also accommodates enormous rock pythons, smaller but venomous puff adders, Harmless water snakes, the largest lizards are found there, and Pian Upe wildlife reserve has Savannah monitors such as common agama, chameleons’, skinks, and geckos