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The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs. Janet Museveni has urged ardent supporters of the environment and wildlife conservation to sensitize and educate the population, especially the young generation, on the importance of people living in peace together with all God’s creation during commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

During the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Speke resort Munyonyo, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, urged ardent supporters of the environment and wildlife conservation to sensitize and educate the population, especially the young generation, on the importance of people living in peace together with all of God’s creation.

Citing the case of Uganda and Africa in general, she said that as the population increases, human beings need to understand and appreciate the fact that they are not the only creation on this planet, but that there are, in fact, different types of life found on planet Earth, including plants, animals, micro-organisms and other organisms.

“We need to understand that ninety percent of the population of Uganda do not know the significance of everything in the natural environment they live in. And that is what should concern all of us”, remarked Mrs. Museveni on Monday while hosting renowned conservationist Dr. Jane for the and several members of the Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Dr. Jane Goodall, a world-renowned primatologist and conservationist and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, is in Uganda for the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The sanctuary found on one of the Lake Victoria islands near Entebbe, is dedicated to the care of orphaned chimpanzees rescued from poachers by Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The First Lady, who is also the Patron of the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, invited Dr. Goodall and her team to State House Nakasero, in Kampala to exchange ideas regarding the future of conservation in Uganda.

Different people passionate about nature, including Diana Museveni Kyaremera, an ardent supporter of tourism and wildlife attended the meeting.  A release from her office states that the First Lady told  the meeting that Kyaremera (her daughter )will be representing her on conservation issues  in cases where she (Mrs. Museveni) is  not available.

Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Lilly Ajarova the CEO Uganda Tourism Institute, Dr. James Musinguzi from Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and Board Chair Chimpanzee Trust Fund, Sam Mwandha the Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Authority, Anna Rathmann and Diana Leizinger from the Jane Goodall Institute USA and Austria attended the meeting alongside officials from the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Jane Goodall Institute

Mrs. Museveni told her gusts that that Uganda appreciates Dr.  Goodall and honours her for the stand she has made in life to always remind people about living together in peace with wildlife on planet earth.

She also applauded the work being done by the Chimpanzee Trust, including sensitizing and educating the communities, and called for more of this to be done as a country.

The First Lady said that it is extremely important and urgent for the people, the majority of whom live in rural areas, to understand and relate biodiversity to their own survival.

She emphasised the need to explain to the communities that human beings cannot live peacefully without the rest of God’s creation on earth being at peace.

She argued that biodiversity provides us with food and water, helps to maintain a stable climate, breaks down waste and recycles nutrients, keeps pests under control, protects against soil erosion and flooding, provides us with raw materials, such as timber and is a source of fuel such as fossil fuels.

Mrs. Museveni  also stressed the need to sensitize and bring on board the youth  who constitute over 70 per cent of Uganda’s population, saying that they are the future custodians of our heritage, and the future decision-makers to carry on the mantle of conserving the nature that God has committed to us.
“If they are not aware of the value attached to forests, they will cut down forests for quick money gains, and then regret it later”, she said.

The First Lady noted that the world is  experiencing a period of massive extinction of various species of animals and plants largely due to human activity.

According to Mrs. Museveni people should be told that wildlife is negatively affected when we human beings pollute the land, the air, the soil, and the water, and it also becomes vulnerable when we carry out illegal hunting or poaching.