UWA held its first ever African Grey Parrot symposium to evaluate the Save the African Grey Parrot project, which has been ongoing since 2021 and is expected to conclude in May 2026.

UWA through UWEC – CA partnered with Chubu University and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2017 and rolled out this project to raise community awareness, foster anti-poaching activities, and do reforestation efforts in communities with key habitats for the endangered African Grey Parrot, all aiming at creating a sustainable model in which both people and parrots can thrive.

The project, which prioritized communities, began activities on Koome and Busi Islands by working with local leaders and organized groups. These groups participated in various capacity-building trainings and workshops, including practical skills in craft making as an alternative livelihood. This approach aimed to lessen the pressure on the forest, which is the main habitat of the African Grey Parrot.

At the opening of the symposium at Admas Grand Hotel – Entebbe, UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi re-emphasized the importance of involving local leaders in conservation efforts, especially in areas where the species holds cultural significance, such as being regarded as totem symbols.

He added that UWA-funded livelihood projects aim to provide alternative income sources for communities, encouraging them to report illegal activities and actively participate in conservation and such should be embraced.

Beyond active community involvement in conservation and ecotourism, the project has achieved several successes. These include increased awareness of environmental conservation, development of infrastructure supporting the welfare of African Grey Parrots and broader conservation initiatives, staff training programs that featured international exchanges, and notably, the release of parrots from UWEC – Entebbe Zoo into Kibale National Park and Ngamba Island.

David Musingo, UWA Commissioner Community Conservation and Ex-Situ Wildlife Services and the project coordinator, explains that the project aims to establish a “Ugandan Model for African Grey Parrot Conservation.” This model combines science-based conservation and monitoring, habitat restoration focused on native food tree species, and enhanced community participation programs.

The goal of this model is to ensure the long-term survival of African Grey Parrots in Uganda and to provide a replicable framework that can be applied in other African countries facing similar conservation challenges.

The African Grey Parrot is among the most threatened species in Africa due to illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and natural forest degradation. Over the past 40 years, it has been the most illegally exported bird species, with more than 1.3 million individuals trafficked.