The Nakuwa area, is in the south-eastern part of the Kyoga system, which is an important natural water reservoir for the Nile. The Wetland is located 25 km from Pallisa town. It is situated in north central Uganda, in the districts of Kamuli (Kagulu, Nawaikoke, Bumanya, Gadumire and Namwiwa subcounties), Pallisa (Gogonyo, Apopong, Kasodo, Buseta and Pallisa subcounties) and Soroti (Pingire and Kateta sub-counties).
It includes Lakes Nawampasa, Budipa, Nkodokodo and Murlu, as well as swamps in the east, and the northern swamps of Lakes Nakuwa and Kyebiseke. The swamps are predominantly dense papyrus Cyperus papyrus, broken in parts by pools of water forming sudds (clumps of floating papyrus). Sometimes these sudds open up completely, forming small lakes. Some lakes, like Nawampasa, are very shallow and covered by water-lilies Nymphaea, with short sedges occupying the drier parts of the fringing papyrus swamp. These shallow areas are important for both waterbirds and surrounding fishing communities
Lake Nakuwa wetland System is a source of livelihood for the people living in the area. The system supports a strong fishery and provides hydrological values to the ecosystem and people living in the nearby areas. It controls floods and stores water for ground water recharge.
There is no list of birds in the Kyoga system, but records have been made in different parts of the swamp. These include Lake Nawampasa, part of Lake Nakuwa and Kyebiseke around Irundu. The swamps are mainly important for three species of global conservation concern, and for species of the Lake Victoria Basin biome.
Noteworthy fauna:
Noteworthy fauna for Lake Nakuwa wetland system includes two globally vulnerable bird species, the Shoebill Balaeniceps rex and the Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri. East African Regionally threatened species of conservation interest include the White-winged Warbler (Bradypterus carpalis), Papyrus Canary (Serinus koliensis), Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Chloropeta gracilirostris), African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus), Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis), Marsh Widowbird (Euplectes hartlaubi) and the Red-chested Sunbird (Cinnyris erythrocerca)