Residents of Koome sub-county in Mukono district joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Chimpanzee day which is celebrated on July 14, every year. Led by area leaders, the residents especially those from the Koome archipelago gathered at Ngamba island to mark the day.
During a function which was organised by the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) which manages Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary, locals appreciated the conservation efforts exhibited by CSWCT towards the welfare of orphaned Chimps.
The ceremony was organised with the aim of improving the understanding, protection and welfare of the great ape cousins today and in the future.
Dr. Joshua Rukundo the executive director for chimpanzee trust said, the celebration of world chimpanzee day manifests with an opportunity to raise awareness about the vital need for worldwide participation in their care, protection and conservation.
He also revealed that Uganda has around 3,500 Chimps from 5,000 chimps which the country had 15 years ago, hence forming a huge drop in the percentage of chimpanzees. “This speaks the fact that chimpanzees are in danger and at a high risk of becoming critically endangered for the next years,” noted Rukundo.
He pointed out deforestation, pet trade and human-wildlife conflicts as being the major causes to a decline in chimps population.
Lawrence Kiyingi, the Koome sub county chairperson lauded the management of Ngamba Island for standing up with the community in terms of health services, education facilities, employment opportunities to the locals as well as sensitisation on environmental conservation through preserving the forests and lake Victoria.
However, Dr. Rukundo stated some of the challenges faced by the Chimpanzee sanctuary among which include inadequate resources to facilitate the feeding and treatment of chimpanzees.
Lying 23 km from Entebbe municipality, Ngamba island is a home of 52 orphaned Chimpanzees that were rescued from different parts of Uganda as a result of human-wildlife conflict. The 100-acre forested piece of land is one of the islands that form Koome archipelago in Mukono district.
The island which was gazetted in October 1998, supports a rich diversity of natural wildlife and provides a variety of natural foods for the chimpanzees.
July 14, 1960 is the day Dr. Jane Goodall first stepped foot in what now is Gombe stream national park in Tanzania to study wild chimpanzees, a day which has been gazetted as World Chimpanzee day, with an aim of raising awareness about a need for worldwide participation in the protection and welfare of Chimpanzees.
The celebrations at Ngamba island included the launch of a children’s story book that tells the tale of one of the resident chimpanzees at Ngamba island known as Sunday. The ceremony was also used to unveil the youngest chimpanzee named Themba which was born during the Covid-19 period in May 2021.
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