KAMPALA – Government and conservation leaders have urged stronger links between research, policy, and practice to halt biodiversity loss, as Uganda convened its 1st National Biodiversity Symposium 2026 under the theme, “Science, Innovation and Collaborative Responses.”
Dr Bashir Ajer, representing the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities as Chief Guest, said research must move beyond reports to real-world impact.
“We need to keep the fire of knowledge burning by ensuring that research findings are widely shared through publications and integrated into the structures of the Ministry and UWA,” Dr Ajer said. “Evidence without adaptation changes nothing.”
He called for stronger connections between research, policy, and practice, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting research, innovation, ecosystem restoration, and evidence-based conservation. “Research must ultimately translate into action and impact,” he added.
Welcoming participants, UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi emphasized the need to institutionalise the symposium as an annual platform for knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration.
“Effective conservation can only be achieved through data-driven and evidence-based decision-making,” Dr Musinguzi said. “Biodiversity is fundamental to sustainable development, ecosystem health, livelihoods, and national prosperity.”
He announced plans to establish a Wildlife Research Journal to promote research, knowledge dissemination, and informed conservation action.
He also urged government agencies, researchers, conservation organizations, development partners, and individuals to invest in research and generate scientific evidence to guide biodiversity conservation and wildlife management.
UWA Board Chair Dr James Kalema stressed that genetic research and global collaboration are now non-negotiable for conservation.
“We cannot protect what we do not understand. Advancing genetic research, scientific innovation, and global collaboration is essential to halt biodiversity loss, restore degraded landscapes, and secure a sustainable future for life on Earth,” Dr Kalema said during his presentation.
The symposium signals a shift toward institutionalising biodiversity research in Uganda’s conservation agenda. With the government pledging to integrate findings into policy and UWA moving to launch a dedicated research journal, stakeholders are pushing to ensure science directly shapes ecosystem restoration and sustainable development efforts.
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