When British nurse and zoologist Sandra Gray first arrived in Uganda in 2004, she came seeking a glimpse of the endangered mountain gorillas roaming the misty slopes of the Virunga Mountains.
Instead, she found herself captivated by another primate, the elusive golden monkey.
More than two decades later, Gray is still in southwestern Uganda, where she has transformed from tourist to conservationist, earning the local nickname ‘Kachima’ – golden monkey – after becoming the first zoologist to conduct extensive research on the species in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
‘My work first began in the mountains of Mgahinga researching golden monkeys. For the love of these creatures, people nicknamed me Kachima, which I am proud of,’ Gray said.
But after years spent studying wildlife in the forests bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, another ecosystem caught her attention – Lake Mutanda.
Nestled beneath the volcanic peaks of the Virunga range in Kisoro District, the lake was once renowned for its abundant birdlife, thriving fisheries and extensive wetlands.
What Gray encountered, however, was a fragile ecosystem under pressure.
The crested cranes that once frequented the lake had largely disappeared. Wetlands were shrinking under the weight of human encroachment, deforestation, agricultural runoff and illegal fishing.
Alarmed by the decline, Gray founded the Wetland Life Conservation Initiative (WLCI), a community-based conservation enterprise aimed at restoring Lake Mutanda’s wetlands while creating alternative livelihoods for surrounding communities.
Rather than separating conservation from development, WLCI seeks to combine both.
‘Our vision is to protect this lake sustainably for both people and wildlife while giving surrounding communities alternative livelihoods,’ Gray said on June 12, 2026.
She added: ‘This place is sitting on gold because of its birdlife and eco-tourism potential. We know the nesting sites, the otter habitats and the critical zones. These areas must remain protected and undisturbed.’
The initiative works with local leaders, environmental agencies and residents to restore degraded wetlands and promote eco-tourism as a source of income.
Gray has documented 223 bird species around the lake, alongside otters, amphibians, reptiles and diverse plant species, including two distinct papyrus varieties.
She believes the area’s biodiversity could support a thriving tourism industry if properly protected.
Recognising that conservation efforts often fail when communities see no economic benefit, WLCI is training residents and plans to establish a professional tour-guiding programme targeting unemployed youth.
The initiative also focuses heavily on environmental education.
Through storytelling novels distributed in local schools, children are introduced to conservation themes while developing literacy skills.
Alex Mushime, director of Amazing Primary School, said the programme has helped inspire a new generation of environmental stewards.
‘Sandra’s storytelling novels have deeply connected our learners to the natural world. These engaging narratives inspire a strong sense of stewardship. A new generation of young conservation leaders is emerging around Lake Mutanda,’ he said.
Government agencies have also joined the effort. Kisoro District Environment Officer Judith Muja said cooperation between WLCI and local authorities has strengthened enforcement of environmental regulations.
‘Our joint effort with Sandra is significantly improving compliance. We are stopping illegal structures and destructive shoreline farming. No one can build without National Environment Management Authority approval,’ she said.
Lake Mutanda’s fisheries, once a key source of food and income, have also suffered significant decline.
District Fisheries Officer Augustine Byaruhanga said years of illegal fishing and destructive practices had severely damaged fish stocks.
‘Lake Mutanda previously boasted a high output of large, flavorful fish,’ he said.
Authorities now plan to work with WLCI to conduct sensitisation campaigns aimed at promoting sustainable fishing practices and protecting aquatic habitats.
The effort has not been without challenges. Nyakinama Sub-county GISO Kassim Ibrahim said some illegal fishers have resisted conservation interventions.
‘Some individuals at Lake Mutanda, especially illegal fishers, are hostile,’ he said, pledging security support for conservation teams where necessary.
Despite the resistance, local leaders say attitudes are slowly changing. Nyakinama LC3 Chairperson Bigira Charles Kamuhanda described Gray as ‘a moving encyclopedia with rich knowledge about nature’ whose work is helping residents understand the long-term value of conservation.
For Gray, the mission extends beyond protecting a single lake.
‘We are all part of the natural world,’ she said, adding: ‘If the flora and fauna are not healthy, we cannot be healthy. Wetlands elsewhere have been destroyed, leading to floods and hardship. Here, we can show a different path.’
As Uganda grapples with balancing environmental protection and economic development, conservationists say the experiment unfolding at Lake Mutanda offers a model that could be replicated elsewhere; one where protecting nature is not a barrier to prosperity but a foundation for it.