Before he became the executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), before he was entrusted with overseeing national parks, wildlife reserves, and some of the country’s most treasured natural assets, James Musinguzi was a schoolboy on an excursion who stood calmly in front of a chimpanzee enclosure, watching. Around him, children marvelled at the animals’ size, their playful swings, their familiar faces. But Musinguzi was watching how the chimpanzees interacted with one another. He noticed their discipline, their social structure, the deliberate way they selected and used simple tools. The experience left him with questions.
“I was fascinated by the level of organisation and intelligence of the animals,” he recalls.
That fascination did not fade. It became the engine of a career that would eventually place him at the centre of Uganda’s conservation efforts. But the journey from that school trip to the executive director’s office was not a straight line. It was a slow accumulation of understanding, about nature, about people, and about the fragile threads that connect them.
Defining the mission
Musinguzi describes himself first as a Christian, a family man, and a believer in community service. Away from the office, he enjoys interacting with people and participating in local development initiatives. During the Covid-19 lockdown, he mobilised residents in his village to open up roads that had become impassable. He mentions this not as a boast but as an illustration of a guiding belief; partnerships, social cohesion, working together regardless of class. That philosophy shapes nearly everything he does.
Growing up, he became increasingly aware of how interconnected life is. People depend on the environment. Animals depend on ecosystems. Plants support life. Nature sustains livelihoods.
He says, “We rely on each other. People need animals. Animals need the environment. We need the environment.”
That understanding led him to study conservation biology and wildlife management. But the deeper he ventured into the field, the more he realised that conservation was not merely about protecting animals or managing protected areas. He became fascinated by the role wild plants play in medicine. He saw how ecosystems support livelihoods. He understood how wildlife contributes to tourism and economic development. And he arrived at a conviction that would define his career.
“I thought there was a need for a voice to be able to speak for these plants, to speak for these animals that may not necessarily speak but need to be heard.”
That is the job he now holds. To speak for the voiceless. To translate the needs of nature into the language of policy, budgets, and public will.
The strategic leader
Musinguzi takes over UWA at a critical moment. Tourism has been identified as one of the sectors expected to drive Uganda’s economic transformation. Nature-based tourism remains at the centre of that ambition, placing wildlife conservation in an increasingly strategic position. For him, conservation and development are complementary.
Healthy ecosystems attract visitors. Tourism creates jobs. Revenue generated through tourism supports conservation. Conservation protects the resources that attract tourists. The challenge is ensuring that the cycle continues.
Storytelling as infrastructure
He argues that storytelling is critical because it evokes memories and emotions. People protect what they value. They value what they understand. Stories help them understand. He sees journalists, photographers, filmmakers, and content creators as essential partners.
“They send a real photo. They send a real image. They are very powerful at telling stories.”
Confronting the threats
Despite his optimism, Musinguzi is under no illusions. Poaching remains a significant threat. Climate change is creating new pressures on ecosystems. Human-wildlife conflict continues to affect communities living near protected areas. As executive director, he intends to confront these challenges directly. He speaks about strengthening ranger training, enhancing intelligence gathering, increasing surveillance, and embracing technology.
Among the initiatives he is particularly enthusiastic about is the establishment of a DNA forensic laboratory capable of supporting wildlife crime investigations. The facility will strengthen prosecution efforts by helping authorities identify the origin of wildlife products and provide evidence in court. He believes conservation must be both compassionate and firm.
“We are promoting zero tolerance to poaching,” he says.
Protecting wildlife requires education and awareness, but it also requires enforcement.
The community question
Musinguzi returns, again and again, to communities. For decades, many communities have borne the costs of wildlife conservation. Crop raids, livestock losses, and other forms of human-wildlife conflict remain daily realities for families living near parks. He argues that conservation cannot succeed unless these communities feel included and supported.
“The communities must feel the benefits of the parks that are near them.”
This principle informs much of his thinking. He speaks about revenue-sharing programmes, employment opportunities, scholarships, and livelihood projects designed to ensure that conservation delivers tangible benefits. The goal is coexistence and partnership. He wants communities to see protected areas not as burdens but as opportunities. He wants them to become ambassadors for conservation. It is a matter of relationships as much as policies. The relationship between people and nature. Between communities and parks.
A personal connection
His affection for wildlife remains deeply personal. When asked his favourite animal, he responds without hesitation; the giraffe. He admires its elegance, its height, the way it seems to survey the world from above.
“The sight of giraffes with their long necks being so strategic, looking far and ahead, has always been fascinating to me.”
His favourite destination is Kidepo Valley National Park. He speaks about it with unmistakable admiration. To him, Kidepo represents one of the last truly wild landscapes in Africa; a place where nature still feels untouched, with sweeping valleys, dramatic mountains, and vast open spaces. He notes that today’s travellers are increasingly seeking meaningful and immersive experiences.
“The ecotourist is looking for an undisturbed place,” he says. Kidepo, he believes, offers exactly that.
Beyond wildlife tourism
While gorillas, lions, and elephants remain central attractions, Musinguzi believes Uganda has many other stories waiting to be told; birds, unique plant life, archaeological sites, rock art, landscapes, cultures, and communities.
”We are working on product identification, packaging and selling Uganda beyond wildlife,” he says.
The ambassador’s call
Musinguzi strongly believes that Ugandans themselves must become the first ambassadors of their country.
“First of all, we need to appreciate Uganda ourselves first as Ugandans. You can only promote what you know.”
He talks about Uganda’s extraordinary beauty; its wildlife, landscapes, and people, with the enthusiasm of someone who continues to discover the country despite spending years working within it. The climbing lions, the shoebills, the birds, the wilderness areas. Appreciating Uganda, he says, is the first step towards protecting it.
This is not about conservation targets or tourism statistics. It is about safeguarding a legacy. Ensuring that future generations inherit the same natural wonders that inspired him as a child. The same chimpanzees. The same giraffes. The same wilderness. The same stories.