The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) have renewed their partnership for an additional five years through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue the formal collaboration between both parties in addressing the challenges related to cross-transmission of diseases between wildlife, humans and livestock.
This renewed commitment builds upon a long-standing collaboration integrating public health initiatives with wildlife conservation efforts, particularly in areas like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The MoU also allow formal recognition of the role played by CTPH in the investigation and diagnosis of zoonotic diseases, as well as to streamline the roles and responsibilities of UWA and CTPH in connection with zoonotic disease management.
While signing the documents at the UWA headquarters in Kampala, Dr. James Musinguzi, the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) explained that the partnership has been renewed as a result of tremendous achievements and benefits achieved as a result of working in partnership with the Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH).
In addition, he noted that partnerships are the way to go today for you to be able to achieve what you want, because UWA is dealing with a multifaceted and multidisciplinary resource with so many stakeholders that you may not be able to service and work with as an institution.
“So we bring partners, like CTPH, and since they have not let us down, that’s why we have decided to renew our contract to continue working on gorilla health, gorilla welfare, as well as other life,” Musinguzi said.
Gladys Kalema Zikusoka, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CTPH, remarked that they are very proud to be able to support the Uganda Wildlife Authority in the field by working closely with the UWA team, including the rangers and wardens, to assess the attitudes of the communities around the National Parks and other wildlife areas.
“We hope that this partnership will continue to strengthen, and we want to continue to grow for the good of Uganda and the global community. And actually, community health has to become a priority in conservation hence establishing conservation for public health. We also support the coffee farmers in a way of preventing them from entering the forest. And then this coffee is served to tourists, visitors, before they go for gorilla briefing, and many of them are buying the coffee to support the farmers and also help the communities,” she noted.
This memorandum of understanding shall be in operation for a period of five years, subject to review from time to time as may be necessary, and any Amendments shall be put in writing on the agreement of both parties. They also agreed that in the event of termination, they will make every effort to fulfil any remaining obligations about a particular project under this memorandum of understanding.
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