Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), has been unanimously elected Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT). The election took place on April 28, 2025, at Forest Cottages, Naguru, in Kampala.

Established in 1994 under the Uganda Trustees Law, BMCT is a non-profit government trust dedicated to conserving the Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks, two globally significant forest ecosystems in south western Uganda that harbor nearly half of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population.

BMCT’s mission is to promote biodiversity conservation in the two parks through a multi-faceted approach that includes funding community development initiatives, supporting research and ecological monitoring, bolstering park management and protection, and advancing conservation awareness among local communities. The Trust operates within the parishes surrounding Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA).

Speaking after his election, Dr. Musinguzi expressed his gratitude to the trustees for the confidence they have in him.  "I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the leadership of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust. Together with our partners and communities, we will strengthen efforts to protect these vital ecosystems and ensure that conservation benefits the people who live closest to them", he said.

Dr. Musinguzi will serve a renewable three-year term, assuming leadership at a critical time when the Government of Uganda and its conservation partners are conducting a mountain gorilla census in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Dr. Musinguzi reaffirmed the strong partnership between UWA and BMCT. "As Uganda Wildlife Authority, we value the strong partnership we share with the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust in safeguarding the mountain gorillas and their habitats. I look forward to deepening this collaboration to enhance conservation outcomes and uplift the communities that live alongside our national parks."

The BMCT Board of Trustees comprises 12 members, including representatives from the ministries of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and conservation partners, among others.

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