omoding David

Chimpanzees are among the most intelligent animals on earth. They share about 98.8% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives alongside bonobos. Their remarkable intelligence, emotions, communication, and social behavior continue to offer important insights into both the natural world and ourselves. They deliberately use tools such as sticks to extract termites, stones to crack nuts, leaves as sponges for water, and branches for defense. They also remember complex patterns, build friendships and alliances, recognize hierarchy, communicate through gestures and vocalizations, comfort distressed group members, and even show self awareness and empathy. Different chimp communities can develop unique learned behaviors passed from one generation to another, a form of culture in the wild. Uganda’s chimpanzees are found in several forest ecosystems and protected areas across the country including Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Bugoma Forest, Semuliki National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO vs EAC President @WilliamsRuto has suggested that East Africa phone calls should all work like domestic phone calls! Great idea especially if Tanzania, Kenya , Rwanda and Ugandan leadership agrees to that. EAC AVIATION TAXES While the phone calls issue is important, I think even more important all East African flights should be considered as domestic flights too! A flight between Nairobi and Entebbe will attract more than usd 100 in taxes and yet a flight between Nairobi and Mombasa will be usd 4.65. Tanzania flight taxes are about usd 90 making a flight between Nairobi and Kilimanjaro airport usd 140 in taxes alone. Yet usd 140 should actually be the cost of a ticket between Nairobi and Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. Interestingly, the tickets between Dubai and Nairobi are cheaper than entebbe Nairobi at any time. What East African countries are saying directly is that we better have business between us and Dubai than trading within east Africa. The faster and affordably entrepreneurs can move between places, the more business that will be between those places and East African countries shouldn’t short change themselves. For a country like Uganda which is landlocked stands yet expensive access by road, unless rail and aviation becomes cheaper, leaders will be spending time explaining how well we are doing with no reality on the ground. People love moving cheaply and will be happy to spend more on doing business or accommodation or entertainment etc. As long as movement between East African countries is expensive, Intra trade will massively be affected.

@JGI_ug Plants 1,602,330 Trees to Celebrate Earth Day. Aim to restore biodiversity&ecosystems;increase& protect habitat for animals i.e.chimpanzees to reduce human-wildlife conflict, raise awareness &mobilize communities to protect, conserve environment & combat climate change.

There has been a notable increase in populations of key wildlife species in Uganda, including Ugandan kobs, buffaloes, impalas, elephants, and zebras. In addition, Uganda Wildlife Authority is actively working to boost the numbers of rhinos and lions through targeted conservation and management efforts. For more detailed information, please refer to the State of Wildlife Resources Report available on our website . #StateOfWildlifeResources

Deep within the emerald canopy of @kibaleforest the delegation tracked wild chimpanzees an encounter that places Uganda at the forefront of experiential tourism. Home to 13 primate species and over 375 birds, Kibale offers unmatched biodiversity on the continent. #ExploreUganda #CairoToKampala, #ECD #VisitUganda #NileJourney

Happy Earth Day! Yesterday, BBC World Service published my interview with their inspiring presenter, Myra Anubi. When I first encountered the mountain gorillas, 🦍 their numbers were critically low and close to extinction. Today, their population has risen significantly and our One Health approach has contributed to this positive growth. This model recognizes that we cannot separate the health of wildlife from that of people. Through community health volunteers, we support local communities to improve their health, adopt good hygiene practices, understand the dangers of poaching, and appreciate the importance of planting trees. These efforts empower communities to become more self-sufficient, reducing their dependence on the forest to meet basic needs. At the same time, it helps prevent the transmission of diseases between people and wildlife. The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet.” It calls on all of us to embrace small actions that collectively make a big difference, such as reducing plastic use and planting trees, which we are already championing at Conservation Through Public Health, and our social enterprise, Gorilla Conservation Coffee that supports smallholder farmers around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Protecting our planet is a shared responsibility. When communities embrace family planning, the pressure on natural resources like forests is reduced. When trees are planted and poaching is discouraged, we safeguard our environment. Through the One Health approach, our planet can become healthier and more resilient. I encourage everyone to adopt this approach in your respective fields. It is not limited to conservationists. Happy Earth Day, and thank you to the BBC for highlighting this important message on such an important day. Listen to the full interview: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3… Photo credit: Kibuuka Mukisa

RECORD BROKEN! Hillary Kiplagat Kibiwott has just planted 23,326 trees in 24 hours at Kessup Forest, shattering the previous record that stood at 23,060 held by a Canadian.

Aliko Dangote: I applaud President Museveni for his bold decision to ban the export of unprocessed minerals. I also want to commit to the two presidents here that, with their support for the refinery, we will build a similar one in East Africa like the one we have in Nigeria.

Yes. Bwindi is the only place in the world with 2 great apes co-existing - Chimpanzees and Mt. Gorilla's. @JGI_ug recent Chimpanzee Survey confirmed presence of 426 chimpanzees in the same park @ugwildlife @MTWAUganda @TourismBoardUg @KagutaMuseveni @UNESCO

Uganda is officially a global top-tier destination! The Telegraph just ranked our Gorilla trekking #6 on the "must-do" bucket list, and Bwindi is 3 for adventure globally right up there with Peru and Ecuador. We don’t just have the Big Five; we have the Big Seven. #TheCapitalGang

Happy Earth Day 🌎 Most trees planted by an individual in 24 hours 🌲🌳 23,060 by Antoine Moses 🇨🇦

Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams visited 🇺🇬's Bwindi National Park,describing the experience as “once in a lifetime” Malsie is championing @WWFUganda's “Adopt a Gorilla” program, which supports ongoing conservation efforts across Uganda #ShowMeUganda #ExploreUganda

Put your conservation knowledge to test. How do you call this bird in your local language? And what story do you know about it? #ConservationEducation

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shares a light, heartfelt exchange with a Ugandan woman. (🎥: Acyn/X)

The tourism sector has received UGX 48.6 billion to support promotion efforts, including the “Explore Uganda” campaign. #KnowYourBudget

For reaching the final of the CAF African Schools Football Championship, St. Mary’s Kitende is assured of at least $200,000 (Ugx 736 million). They can win $300,000 (Ugx 1.1 billion) if they win the title. Huge🔥 #NBSportThePavilion #NBSportUpdates 📸 @USSSAOnline

A large group of chimpanzees in Uganda’s Kibale National Park split into two rival factions, sparking a deadly conflict, according to a study in Science. The group—once about 200 strong—lived cooperatively for decades, but began dividing around 2015 after key social males died and a new alpha rose to power. By 2018, the split was complete, with no remaining social ties. The two groups then turned violent. The smaller faction launched coordinated attacks, killing adult males and later targeting infants. At least 24 chimpanzees have died so far, though the true number is likely higher. The violence is still ongoing. Source: WSJ

@JGI_ug celebrates, the first ever 'Jane Goodall Day' April 3, 2026. Commemoration focused on honoring Dr. Jane Goodall and mobilizing members of the public to keep Jane’s legacy alive by taking action to protect and conserve the environment, other animals and all living things.

April 3,Celebrated #JaneGoodallDay following her footsteps-raising new generation of conservationists. Created awareness on environmental protection, planted trees&cleaned-up for the benefit of people, other animals&all living things–making the planet a better place for all of us

Uganda is Africa’s ultimate birding paradise! It's has over 1,060 bird species. Shoebill in Mabamba Swamp, Grey Crowned Crane (Uganda’s national bird) in the Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth National Parks, and Raptors, the bee-eaters, and classic savannah specials. #GoldenPosts