STAFF
|
PAST JGI UGANDA STAFF
DEBBY COX - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Debby ended her tenure as the Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) Uganda in 2008 handing over the role to Panta Kasoma. Debby arrived in Uganda in 1996. During this time, Debby worked on developing a sanctuary for the chimpanzees that were housed at the centre and for future confiscated chimps. Debby completed her masters in Environmental Science in 2004.
Once Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was operational, Debby then took on the role of Project Director for CSWCT as well as maintained her role with JGI Uganda. In a two year period from 2000, Debby returned to her homeland to do a masters degree, leaving Cherie 'Monty' Montgomery to deputize in her absence. On her return, Debby and Monty split the very busy role and Debby maintained the role of Project Director for CSWCT and Executive Director for JGI Uganda.
In January 2004, both CSWCT and JGI were restructured and Debby handed over the Project Director role for CSWCT to Monty whilst she is now concentrating her full time efforts on JGI Uganda and its many projects around the country. Debby also takes on a more regional role for JGI globally, assisting Congo DRC and Congo Brazzaville with their respective sanctuaries and management issues.
|
CHERIE MONTGOMERY - DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Monty, originally from New Zealand, has been living and working in Uganda since 1996. Monty was a field supervisor for 'Frontier', a conservation NGO working in the national parks of Uganda. After a year, she went to the UK for 6 months to raise money and then returned to help set up the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care for Animals (USPCA).
Monty then spent 3 months in 1998, assisting in the translocation of the Ngamba chimpanzees from the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and in the set up of the island. Soon after she went back to the UK to try to look for further opportunities in wildlife conservation.
Still looking to return to Africa, in 2000, Monty was offered to cover the position of Project Director whilst Debby went to Australia to study. Monty managed both CSWCT and the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda projects for a 21-month period before Debby returned full time, after which time Monty then took on the position of Education and Marketing Director for both organizations. In January 2004, Monty took over the role of Project Director for CSWCT fulltime. In May of 2004, Monty was married. In January 2005, Monty left Africa to return home to New Zealand to start a family, we expect to see Monty and her family return to Africa sometime in the near future.
|
 |
STEPHANIE TOWNSEND - EDUCATION PROGRAMMES MANAGER
Stephanie arrived in Africa to teacher in Rwandan schools as a biology teacher. Stephanie started working with CSWCT alongside the Education Officer on the island in 2002 and then worked from the mainland on other areas of education and marketing. During her time with the CSWCT she has also been called upon to be a caregiver for newly confiscated infants, a role she was more than happy to fill. She has a particular soft spot for both Kazahukire and Bwambale who were the two new arrivals that she cared for.
In January 2004, as part of the restructuring of JGI Uganda and CSWCT, Stephanie took on a new role of Education Manager, overseeing and managing the various education programmes around the country. Stephanie is studying French and has completed a diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation of Education programmes and currently undertaking a diploma course in Accounting.
Stephanie left JGI in April 2008 to resume her studies and resettle back in the UK.
|
 |
VICTORIA MBAZIIRA - OFFICE MANAGER
Chimpanzees were new to Victoria when she started working for CSWCT in October 1999. Over the years she has seen a number of orphans come through the office during their quarantine period.
Victoria, originally from Mukono District, lives and works in Entebbe as the Office Manager for JGI Uganda. She has a diploma in Business Administration and a diploma in Tourism. She enjoys the quiet of the office and the satisfaction of working with numbers.
Up until January 2004, Victoria worked 50% of her time for JGI and the other 50% for CSWCT. In January, when the two organizations underwent restructuring, it was agreed that with her intimate knowledge of the sanctuary operations it was best for Victoria to go over to CSWCT fulltime.
Sadly, in January 2007, Victoria died of a long term illness. Vicky's sense of humour and laughter and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
|
 |
DR. RICHARD SSUNA - VETERINARIAN / FIELD PROJECTS
Richard is from Entebbe, Uganda. His main interest is animal welfare. Upon graduating from Makerere University-Faculty of Veterinarian Medicine in 1999, he began working in animal welfare both with his own small animal practice and with the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA). He also attended a 6-month course in Maryland, USA, where he studied animal management, surgery and rescue, as well as shelter management and fundraising. Richard came to work with JGI/ CSWCT in May 2001. As the Veterinary Officer, he is responsible for ensuring the chimpanzees are healthy through the use of preventative medicine, while responding to and managing any diseases or injuries. As Sanctuary Manager, his focus is on the staff and smooth operation of the island. In 2002-2003, Richard traveled to England to complete his masters in Wildlife Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College.
Richard worked 50% of his time for JGI and CSWCT until January 2004. From this point onwards, Richard became the full time Operations Director for CSWCT.
|
 |
MARGARET KEMIGISA - FIELD EDUCATION ASSISTANT FOR THE KIBALE
EARTH EDUCATION PROJECT
Margaret originates from Kaberole District, she grew up as a neighbour to Kibale National Park. Margaret was a trained teacher and worked with JGI for 2 years running our earth education project in Kibale National Park. At the close of the project, Margaret took up a project to help the local women's groups improve their livelihoods with craft making.
|
 |
HUSSEIN SSEZIBWA - FIELD EDUCATION ASSISTANT FOR KALINZU
EDUCATION CENTRE
Hussein originally volunteered with the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and showed a talent and interest in educating children in environmental education.He came to work with JGI in a temporary position to train, capacity build and supervise our new project in Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Husein worked for two years on this project, successfully handing over the operations of the project to the local NFA staff. |
 |
RICHARD ANGUBO EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ASSISTANT
Born in the north western district of Arua and raised in the vicinity of wild animals in three National parks around the country; Kidepo, Lake Mburo & Queen Elizabeth National park. Richard attained substantial knowledge about wildlife and conservation at a young age and always had the dream of working in the field of conservation.
In the course of his primary and secondary school he enjoyed serving in various positions with the wildlife club of Uganda. With this exposure and sustained interest in wildlife, Richard graduated with Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology from Makerere University - Kampala.
In January 2002- 2006: Richard worked in various positions at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, from volunteer Zookeeper to an assistant veterinary technician and quarantine keeper to eventually working in the education department. Richard's most rewarding moments on his job were; seeing himself succeed at hand-raising orphaned young animals, including confiscated chimpanzees and birds and rescuing problem animals in the peri-urban areas of Kampala and working with school children and community groups.
Richard came to JGI in December 2006 joining the education team as an assistant. Richard works in various areas for the team, community education, with field education centres to assisting with the curriculum development of the teacher's handbooks.
|
 |
|
|
