On 3rd April 2025, CCFU facilitated a regional dialogue focused on the review of the Uganda Wildlife Policy of 2014, which is currently being led by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA). This event aimed at providing a platform for conservationists from the Bunyoro and Rwenzori sub-regions to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to chimpanzee conservation, and to ensure that local perspectives are integrated into the revised policy.
The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, cultural and religious leaders, local government officials, civil society organizations, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, private forest owners, and members of the media from Bunyoro and Rwenzori sub regions.
The dialogue included an informative update from Barbra Babweteera, Executive Director of CCFU, regarding the organization’s current conservation initiatives. She highlighted important projects such as the restoration of forest corridors and the promotion of alternative livelihoods. Barbra emphasized that these efforts represent a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels to tackle emerging conservation challenges and support project communities.
Boaz Tumusiime, a Wildlife Officer from MTWA, delivered a keynote presentation outlining the objectives and strategies of the current Wildlife Policy, underscoring the importance of a participatory approach in shaping the new policy. The dialogue included breakout sessions categorized by stakeholder groups—civil society organizations, local government, and representatives from the Uganda Wildlife Authority among others—allowing for focused discussions on what aspects of the policy should be maintained or modified.
Key recommendations from the dialogue included incorporating private forest owners into conservation frameworks, expanding eco-payment systems to private forest owners, and fostering ecotourism enterprises beyond regulated protected areas. Stakeholders stressed the necessity for infrastructure development and recognition of local actors who contribute to wildlife protection. These recommendations will feature in a related national dialogue that will be held in Kampala in June 2025 During his closing remarks, Hon. Magezi Muwonge, the Speaker of Kagadi District, highlighted the importance of involving local governments in Wildlife Policy discussions, particularly regarding revenue sharing and addressing human-chimpanzee conflicts.
Background to CCFU’s culture and chimpanzee conservation project
Since 2016, CCFU has been utilising cultural and community resources to conserve chimpanzees and their habitats, supporting forest corridor restoration, facilitating alternative livelihoods, organizing local, regional and national dialogues, and documenting folklore related to chimpanzees, among other initiatives, by collaborating with various stakeholders at both local, regional and national levels. The overall goal of the current 2 year project is to strengthen existing cultural and community resources to support the respect and value and conservation of chimpanzees and their habitats, ensuring sustainable development for host communities, in the Bunyoro and Rwenzori regions of Uganda.
