HISTORY OF JGI IN UGANDA

In 1989 four chimps, Sundy, Masiko, Jim and Megan were confiscated by local authorities and brought to Entebbe Zoo. In September 1990, these four chimps were sent to Moscow supposably to a zoo, but in fact ended up in the hands of an animal dealer. The Jane Goodall Institute in the United Kingdom found out about this and with the help of International Primate Protection League, found the chimps in Hungary. The Hungarian authorities confiscated the chimps for a second time and in September 1991 and the four were flown back to Uganda under the condition that someone with expertise in captive chimpanzee care went with them. The Jane Goodall Institute was asked to sent a chimpanzee expert to accompany the chimps and to stay in Uganda and help support and train Ugandan personnel. Masiko, Sunday and Megan were originally released on to Isinga Island Sanctuary and in 1998 to their current island home on Ngamba Island in Lake Victoria.Unfortunately, Jim has since passed away.

Since 1991, The Jane Goodall Institute has been active in Uganda. Our primary interest is the conservation of the endangered chimpanzee as well as the welfare of those brought into captivity. We work with the Uganda Wildlife Authority; Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust; Uganda Wildlife Education Centre; Wildlife Clubs of Uganda; National Forestry Authority; Department of Education and many others in our efforts to protect and conserve the diminishing chimpanzee populations of Uganda. JGI Uganda has been a registered foreign NGO since 1996, with its headquarters being the JGI USA office.

Since all life is interconnected, we take great care in the development of our projects and programmes to ensure the wellbeing of human and non human primates.

Achievements to Date

1. Establishment of JGI Office in Uganda (1997). JGI-Uganda is registered with the NGO board in Uganda
2. Population & Health Viability Assessment workshop that set the priorities for Conservation Actions for Chimps in 1997; the workshop recommendations provided a template for chimpanzee conservation in Uganda
3. Establishment of ecotourism project in Kibale National Park in 1997. Project was handed over to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and is currently one of the leading revenue earners for UWA
4. Establishment of a Model Sanctuary in Uganda in 1998. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is currently home to 48 confiscated chimpanzees and also undertakes to eliminate the illegal pet trade in chimpanzees in Uganda
5. Implementation of Snare Removal Program in Kibale NP in collaboration with Kibale Chimpanzee Project in 1999; approximately 25% of chimpanzees in the habituated group have snare related injuries. The Snare Removal Program employs ex-hunters and local community members to patrol the forest, monitor populations and remove snares
6. 1999-2003, in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) carried out a country wide survey of chimpanzee populations in Uganda; the survey highlighted the distribution and relative abundance of chimpanzees and threats to chimpanzees in Uganda
7. Establishment of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (2000); PASA is an alliance of 16 primate sanctuaries from all over Africa that is working towards addressing the needs of current sanctuaries and promoting educational initiatives within communities to reduce harmful environmental and hunting practices.
8. Established Earth Education Program in Kibale NP from 2001-2003. The Earth Education Program was the template/precursor for the Environmental Education Program
9. Implementation of Snare Removal Program in Budongo FR in collaboration with Budongo Forest Project in 2001; approximately 25% of chimpanzees in the research group in Budongo have snare related injuries. The Snare Removal Program employs ex-hunters and local community members to patrol forest, monitor populations and remove snares and other threats to chimpanzees and their habitat. Implementation of  this programme in Budongo has since been taken over by Budongo Conservation Forest Station (BCFS)
10. Chimpanzee Action Plan for GRASP completed in 2003. The Action Plan defines specific, measurable objectives and actions required to conserve chimpanzees in Uganda
11. Implementation of Education Centre/Program in Kalinzu FR in 2003 to date. The program increases public awareness and education regarding the environment with particular focus on the plight of great apes. To date over 6,782 pupils and 165 communities have participated in this program.
12. Development and delivery of Environmental Education Teachers Guide for Primary Five, six and seven (2005-date). The Teachers Handbook integrates environmental education lessons within the Uganda primary schools curriculum.

1. To date 4,303 schools have received 8,927 copies of P.5 and 13,309 copies of P6/7 Teachers’ guides in 11 districts in Uganda.
2. 915 copies of What a Country (WAC) books have been distributed to 650 schools
3. Teachers’ Resource Books for P1 and P2 have been developed and 10 copies have been distributed to 2,263 schools in 11 districts.
4. A coloured book entitled “An ABC to Primates of Uganda” was developed and 20,000 copies were printed and distributed to approximately 2,018 schools in 5 districts.

13. The Management of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary handed over to Uganda Nationals (2005). The Sanctuary is now autonomous and registered as a local non-profit organization in Uganda
14. Implementation of Snare Removal Program in Kalinzu FR in collaboration with Kalinzu Forest Project (2005 to Date); approximately 50% of chimpanzees in the research group in Kalinzu CFR have snare related injuries. The Snare Removal Program employs ex-hunters and local community members to patrol forest, monitor populations and remove snares and other threats to chimpanzees
15. Implementation of Education Centre/Program in Budongo FR (2005 to date). The program increases public awareness and education regarding the environment with particular focus on the plight of great apes. In just one year, over 600 students and 50 community members have participated in this program. Currently the centre is used as a learning resource for Primary school teachers on Environmental Education training. Approximately 250 teachers have benefited from this.
16. Implementation of Budongo Ecotourism Development Project in Budongo Central FR Districts (2006- 2009); this program is aimed at providing a sustainable revenue source for NFA to carry out conservation activities such as conservation education, effective monitoring and law enforcement and community collaboration. In its first year of operation, the ecotourism site has provided approximately US$10,000 towards habitat protection, US$1,500 towards environmental education and a grant of US$1,500 to two community groups with a total membership of 150 households to support alternative livelihoods. In August 2009, this project was handed back to National Forestry Authority who have since contracted a private sector operator, Great Lakes Safaris, to run the site.
17. Renovated and equipped 5 health units close to Budongo CFB in Masindi District with solar fridges and solar lighting.
18. Implemented a forest corridor restoration project in Hoima District (2010- date). This CIDA funded project is attempting to restore connectivity between Bugoma Central Forest Reserve and the smaller Wambabya CFR so as to permit movement of wildlife between the two forest blocks.
19. As a component of the USAID-funded Wildlife, Landscapes and Development for Conservation (WILD) project, successfully implemented a community conservation program integrating wildlife conservation and socioeconomic development to ensure the sustainability of conservation efforts in the Otzi-Nimule Landscape through the following mandates:                         

1. To increase the area of PA that is formally and effectively protected, by involving local communities in decision-making and practical action for the management and protection of Otzi CFR and by improving capacity for effective monitoring and law enforcement by NFA;
2. To increase understanding of the environmental issues in the younger generation of northern Uganda by providing environmental education materials and appropriate training to primary school teachers in environmental sciences;             
3. To improve collaboration and coordination of conservation efforts between agencies concerned with Otzi-Nimule conservation area.

These commitments among others, ensured the construction of two ranger outputs for NFA complete with solar facility for powering the base radio station and 10 hand held radios equivalent to 10 forest rangers recruited; establishment of four CFM groups with 135 well trained members practicing apiculture and commercial forestry as their alternative economic livelihood activities; and undertaking a biodiversity and threat reconnaissance survey of Mt. Otzi CFR with main focus of ascertaining the presence of chimpanzees.