Celebrating Women’s Day 8-March-2024
Uganda is a country rich in biodiversity, with over 1,000 species of birds, 330 species of mammals, and 6,000 species of plants. It is also home to some of the most iconic and endangered wildlife in the world, such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and lions. However, these natural treasures are under constant threat from poaching, habitat loss, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict.
Fortunately, there are many women who are dedicated to protecting and conserving Uganda’s wildlife and natural resources. These women are breaking stereotypes and barriers in a field that has traditionally been dominated by men. They are working as rangers, veterinarians, researchers, educators, and leaders in various conservation organizations and agencies. They are not only making a difference for the environment, but also empowering themselves and their communities.
Today, we will highlight some of the inspiring stories of women in wildlife conservation in Uganda, and how they are contributing to the sustainable development of their country.
Lilly Ajarova
Ugandan conservationist and tourism expert, and the chief executive officer of the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). She has been involved in various conservation efforts throughout her career, such as:
- Working as the Tourism Development and Marketing Manager at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for over eight years, where she was responsible for developing tourism services in Uganda’s national parks.
- Serving as the executive director of Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the owner/operator of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, on Lake Victoria, for fourteen years. She oversaw the rehabilitation and care of orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, as well as the education and empowerment of local communities.
- Being a member of the Uganda Tourism Board and the chairperson of the committee that classified and graded Uganda’s hotels in 2015.
- Receiving several awards and recognitions for her conservation work, such as the National Golden Jubilee Award 2015, the Tourism Excellence Award 2017, the Wildlife Conservation Award 2017, and the Most Influential Women in Business & Government 2018 Award.
Lilly Ajarova is a role model and leader for women in conservation and tourism in Uganda, and a passionate advocate for the protection and promotion of the country’s natural and cultural heritage.
The Lion Woman: Dr. Margaret Druciri
Dr. Margaret Druciri is a wildlife veterinarian with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), who has been working in conservation since 1997. She holds a Masters Degree in Wildlife Health and Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in veterinary medicine from Makerere University. She is one of the few female wildlife vets in Uganda, and has dedicated her career to studying and saving the country’s lions.
From 1997 to 2004, Dr. Druciri worked in a research project investigating the population viability of lions in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, while addressing lion-people-livestock conflicts. She mastered lion behavior and lifestyle, and gave each of them a name. She also rescued a big male lion from the outskirts of Masindi town, where it was terrorizing people and predating their livestock. People call her the Lion Woman.
In 2005, UWA asked Dr. Druciri to help on the eland project at Kidepo Valley National Park, where she successfully translocated 15 elands from Lake Mburo National Park to boost the population of the endangered antelope. Later, she was recruited and deployed at Queen Elizabeth Protected Area, where she works up to date. She is responsible for monitoring and treating the wildlife in the park, especially the lions, which are facing threats from poaching, poisoning, and disease. She also mentors young women who are interested in pursuing careers in conservation.
The Diana Museveni Heritage Foundation;
This is a non-profit organization that was founded by Diana Museveni Kyaremera, the daughter of President Yoweri Museveni and the wife of Geoffrey Kamuntu. The foundation’s mission is to promote and support the conservation of Uganda’s wildlife and natural heritage, especially the chimpanzees, which are endangered and threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and disease.
The foundation works in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the tourism industry to implement the Uganda Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy, which is a comprehensive plan to protect and restore the chimpanzee population and habitat in Uganda. The strategy aims to achieve the following objectives:
- To increase the chimpanzee population by 50% by 2030
- To secure and restore at least 30% of the chimpanzee habitat by 2030
- To reduce human-chimpanzee conflict and disease transmission by 50% by 2030
- To enhance the contribution of chimpanzee conservation to the socio-economic development of Uganda by 2030
The foundation also organizes fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and community outreach programs to mobilize resources and support for the chimpanzee conservation strategy. One of the notable events was the first-ever fundraising dinner for the strategy, which was held at State House, Entebbe, on December 7, 2023. The event raised over 1.6 billion Ugandan shillings from various donors and stakeholders.
The foundation’s vision is to see a Uganda where chimpanzees and other wildlife coexist peacefully with people, and where the natural heritage is valued and preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.
The winners of the Miss Uganda and Miss Tourism Uganda beauty pageants;
The contestants are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and passion for conservation, as well as their involvement in community projects that support the cause. Some of the activities that the contestants participate in include:
- Visiting national parks and wildlife reserves, where they learn about the biodiversity and challenges of conservation in Uganda.
- Planting trees and restoring degraded lands, as part of the Miss Uganda Foundation’s partnership with the National Forestry Authority.
- Advocating for the protection of endangered species, such as mountain gorillas, elephants, and rhinos, and supporting the efforts of organizations such as the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rhino Fund Uganda.
- Educating the public and the media about the importance and benefits of conservation and ecotourism, and how they can contribute to the sustainable development of Uganda.
The Women in Conservation Leadership Program
The Women in Conservation Leadership Program is an initiative launched in 2013 by the USAID / Uganda Tourism for Biodiversity Program, implemented by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), in partnership with UWA. The program is designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding women who are involved in conservation and wildlife fields in Uganda, and to encourage and mentor young women to join conservation and leadership roles.
The program awards women who have shown exemplary performance, innovation, and dedication in their work, and who have inspired others to follow their footsteps. The program also provides training, networking, and career development opportunities for the women, as well as scholarships for girls who want to study conservation-related courses. The program aims to increase the representation and participation of women in conservation management and decision-making, and to promote gender equality and empowerment in the sector.
Some of the women who have been recognized by the program include:
- Agnes Nakidde, a senior warden in charge of law enforcement and community conservation at Lake Mburo National Park, who has successfully reduced poaching and human-wildlife conflict in the park, and has initiated several community-based conservation projects, such as beekeeping, fish farming, and ecotourism.
- Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, a veterinarian and founder of Conservation Through Public Health, a non-governmental organization that works to improve the health of wildlife, people, and livestock in and around protected areas, with a focus on mountain gorillas and their habitats.
- Lilly Ajarova, the chief executive officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, who was formerly the executive director of the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a refuge for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, and the founder of the Uganda Community Tourism Association, a network of community-based tourism enterprises.
The Women Leading Wetlands Conservation and Building Resilience
The Women Leading Wetlands Conservation and Building Resilience is a project implemented by UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Environment, the National Environment Management Authority, and the National Association of Professional Environmentalists. The project aims to enhance the capacity and participation of women in wetlands conservation and management, and to improve their resilience to climate change and disasters.
The project targets women in the districts of Otuke, Amuria, and Katakwi, where wetlands are vital for the livelihoods and well-being of the communities, but are also under pressure from degradation, drought, and floods. The project supports women to form wetland management committees, where they take the lead in planning, implementing, and monitoring wetland restoration and protection activities, such as planting trees, digging trenches, and constructing check dams. The project also provides women with skills and resources to diversify their income sources, such as beekeeping, mushroom growing, and handicraft making, using wetland products. The project also empowers women to advocate for their rights and interests in wetland governance and policy processes.
Apio Kevin and Aol Dorcus are two women who are local leaders in the Te Abaala Wetland Management Committee in the Otuke district. They inspire other community members to engage collectively in wetlands preservation, and to adopt climate-smart practices. They also benefit from the income-generating activities supported by the project, which have improved their household income and food security. “We are happy that we are able to conserve our wetlands and also earn from them,” Apio says. “We are also happy that we have a voice in the decision-making processes that affect our wetlands and our lives.
In a Nutshell;
These are just some of the examples of the amazing women who are working tirelessly to conserve and protect Uganda’s wildlife and natural resources. They are not only saving the environment, but also transforming their lives and their communities. They are role models and leaders, who deserve our recognition and support. They are the women in wildlife conservation in Uganda and we celebrate them this Womens Day 8-March-2024.
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