[8][6][7] This reserve is used for nature walks, game drives and bird watching.
[8][7] There was a land conflict between the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Amuru District Local Government and Adjumani District Local Government for land located within the East Madi Wildlife reserve that had started in 2005 when internally displaced persons from different camps occupied the East Madi Wildlife Reserve, which the wildlife authority called illegal.
[5][9] In 2012, over 6000 locals were evicted from East Madi Forest reserve by wildlife authority personnel.
[10] This issue was resolved in 2015 after a land survey and establishment of the boundaries for the reserve between districts of Adjumani and Amuru was done by Government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development.
[5][9] In 2023, the constitutional court ruled that the East Madi Wildlife Reserve belonged to the Apaa community after a petition for creating this reserve in Adjumani District.