National parks are the cornerstone of contemporary efforts to conserve tropical biodiversity in Africa. Typically they are managed by the state in a 'fortress' conservation mode, often with detrimental implications for their rural neighbours. Recent discourse on national park management, inspired by arguments from economics, ecology and governance, is encouraging moves towards polycentric governance, a managerial arrangement that emphasises bargaining between stakeholders towards mutual agreement. In relation to this evolution in thinking, this thesis critically analyses the theory of protected area management strategies and examines the degree to which the theory translates into policy and practice through a case study of Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda. To assess the various claims over Mount Elgon and its resources a combination of quantitative and qualitative anthropological and social science techniques are employed. A multi-round household survey and ethnographic grounded methods are used to investigate the use of forest products by Park neighbours and the patterns and determinants characterising this use. Semi-structured and structured interviews, participant observation and informal conversations examine the strategies employed by Mount Elgon National Park management authority to assert their claims over the mountain. While normative contemporary national park management theory argues for moves towards polycentric governance, the practice of Park management on Mount Elgon is characterised by conflict and resistance. Scott's analysis of hegemony and exposition of the 'weapons of the weak' is used as an aid to develop an understanding of this relationship. Park management is unwilling to negotiate on its preservationist agenda and Park neighbours are unwilling to accept access to 'low' value resources (e.g. firewood and vegetables) as compensation for the foregone 'high' value resources (e.g. cultivation and grazing) associated with the conservation land use strategy. They respond to the assertion of conservation hegemony by Park management with an array of covert and overt 'weapons of the weak'. While the incompatible land use values, together with the co-optive nature of political systems within which the conservation agenda is pursued, complicate moves towards normative forms of polycentric management, the 'weapons' employed by Park neighbours have successfully maintained access to complementary and important resources on a daily basis.