[2][3] It is known with confidence from eastern and northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern and western Uganda, and northwestern Tanzania.

[1][2][4] It is likely to occur in Burundi and Rwanda,[1][2] possibly ranging further in East Africa.

[1][2] The specific name christyi honours Dr. Cuthbert Christy, a British army doctor[3] who collected the holotype.

[4] Leptopelis christyi occurs in lowland, montane and gallery forests, as well as in more open habitats such as savanna woodland at elevations of 1,000–2,100 m (3,300–6,900 ft) above sea level, possibly higher.

It is an arboreal species, but the eggs are deposited on the ground; flooding washes the tadpoles in water.