The Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Chief Conservation Area manager (CCAM) Mr. Charles Tumwesigye is the proud winner of the 2013 National Geographic Society/Buffet Award for Leadership in African Conservation.
Mr. Tumwesigye becomes the second UWA officer to win the prestigious award after his predecessor Mr. John Makombo who is currently the Director Conservation (DC)in 2010.
Mr. Tumwesigye a former Conservation Area Manager for Bwindi Mgahinga as well as Queen Elizabeth Conservation Areas won the award after going through a competitive nomination and selection process by the National Geographic. The Buffet Award is in recognition of my outstanding accomplishments in Conservation in Africa.
Two people, one from Africa and one from Latin America are awarded each year by the NGS based on nominations received by the National Geographic Society in February of each year.” My nomination by a group of researchers who have worked with me in Uganda was based on my previous conservation work since I joined the conservation field as a research assistant at the Uganda Institute of Ecology in 1994 reciting some of the remarkable achievements, challenges and contribution I have made to conservation in Africa and my growth in UWA to the current leadership position I hold,” states a visibly overjoyed Charles.
The National Geographic Buffett Award for Leadership in [African/Latin American] Conservation is made possible in part by a generous endowment grant from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, a private foundation working to improve the standard of living and quality of life for the world’s most impoverished and marginalized populations. The award was initiated in 2002.
Mr. Tumwesigye has been invited to Washington DC to receive the Award and speak at some of the National Geographic Society Events during the week of 9 – 14 June 2013.
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