I grew up close to Budongo Central Forest Reserve, the largest tropical high forest in Uganda. Then, lumbering was lucrative, and we revered and respected those in the trade. Naturally, the pull to study forestry at Makerere University was irresistible to an impressionable mind. On employment, however, I discovered more socio-economic benefits of forests besides timber and the intrinsic values these ecosystems hold.
Since joining Wetlands International in 2019, I have been the Project Officer working on the upscaling of community resilience through Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (EcoDRR) in Aswa River Catchment in Northern Uganda. Before joining the organisation, I had successfully implemented 81 strategic and community-driven micro water catchment interventions that provided economic incentives to local people to conserve natural resources.
I have also served as a Community Conservation Warden for eight years at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, based in Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Ruwenzori Mountains national parks before moving to manage environmental projects in the Murchison-Semliki landscape and Lake Victoria basin in Uganda.
Besides undertaking short courses on irrigation and water resources management for agriculture, Integrated Water Resources Management, biodiversity assessment and monitoring, and precautionary principles and environmental Leadership, I hold a Master of Science degree in Protected Area Management from University of Klagenfurt, Austria and a Post Graduate Diploma in Endangered Species Management from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (accredited by University of Kent at Canterbury, UK. I am also a fellow at Earth Watch Institute and Kinship Conservation and an active member of Tropical Biology Association and Nature Uganda.
When I am not engaged with the local communities, you will find me reading environmental publications and networking with a community of practice to keep up with global affairs. I also love exploring unique features in new places of tour.