Government has called for science-driven conservation interventions to tackle mounting threats to Uganda’s biodiversity, warning that habitat loss, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten the country’s ecosystems.
Speaking at the inaugural National Biodiversity and Conservation Research Symposium in Mukono District on Monday, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Mr Tom Butime, said Uganda needed responses rooted in science, innovation and collaboration to safeguard its natural heritage.
The minister said Uganda’s biodiversity, which ranges from the Rwenzori Mountains and tropical forests to savannah grasslands and freshwater ecosystems, remains a source of national pride and a key pillar of the country’s tourism economy. However, he warned that increasing pressure on natural resources, population growth and climate-related challenges continue to test the resilience of ecosystems across the country.
‘These are not challenges Uganda faces alone, but they demand a distinctly Ugandan response, one rooted in science, driven by innovation and strengthened through collaboration,’ Mr Butiime said.
The three-day symposium, held under the theme Biodiversity Under Threat: Science, Innovation and Collaborative Responses, brought together researchers, conservation practitioners, policymakers, students and development partners to share findings and explore solutions to emerging conservation challenges.
The event was jointly organised by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training College. Mr Butiime said conservation could no longer be left to wildlife managers and researchers alone.
“Conservation is a shared national responsibility involving government, the private sector, academia, civil society, local communities and development partners,” he said, and urged scientists and conservationists to ensure that research findings are translated into practical solutions capable of strengthening Uganda’s conservation architecture.
The symposium attracted 105 abstract submissions from researchers across different disciplines. Following peer review, 91 abstracts were accepted and 71 were eventually presented, including 60 oral scientific papers, six conservation experience presentations and five poster presentations. The presentations covered biodiversity monitoring and species recovery, ecosystem restoration, climate change and One Health, conservation governance, ecotourism, conservation financing and technological innovation.
Dr James Musinguzi, the Executive Director of UWA, said scientific research remains central to effective wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. ‘Effective conservation can only be achieved through sound scientific evidence generated from research to inform management interventions and decision-making,’ he said.
Dr Musinguzi said UWA has supported numerous researchers, institutions and conservation partners through its Wildlife Research Grant Scheme and other collaborative initiatives aimed at generating knowledge that contributes directly to conservation and sustainable resource management. He said the authority intends to make the symposium an annual event to strengthen knowledge sharing and evidence-based conservation.
‘The knowledge generated and shared through this forum will strengthen our collective ability to develop and implement evidence-based interventions that deliver meaningful conservation outcomes,’ he said.
Mr Robert Baluku, the Principal of the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training College, said Uganda’s biodiversity faces growing threats from climate change, habitat degradation, invasive species, illegal resource extraction and rapid land-use change.
‘These challenges threaten not only wildlife and ecosystems but also the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people who depend on natural resources,’ he said. Mr Baluku noted that addressing biodiversity loss requires more than awareness campaigns, calling instead for evidence-based decision-making, innovation and collective action. He highlighted the increasing use of technologies such as Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, drones and spatial modelling to monitor habitat changes, ecosystem degradation and wildlife corridors.
Researchers at the symposium also highlighted the need to bridge the gap between scientific findings and conservation action. Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the founder and chief executive officer of Conservation Through Public Health, shared examples of how research has informed wildlife health programmes, community interventions and conservation policies around protected areas.
She noted that studies conducted around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park helped shape integrated approaches linking human health, wildlife health and livelihoods, while research during the Covid-19 pandemic informed measures aimed at protecting great apes from disease transmission.
‘It is often a challenge translating findings from research into policy and practice,’ Dr Kalema-Zikusoka said. Prof John R.S. Tabuti of Makerere University warned that despite gains in species recovery, community conservation and ecological monitoring, the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss remain largely unresolved. He described biodiversity loss as a complex challenge driven by interconnected pressures including population growth, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development and fragmented governance systems.
Participants expressed hope that the knowledge generated through the symposium will help inform policy, strengthen conservation management and contribute to the long-term protection of Uganda’s wildlife and ecosystems.