Meet the team making it happen 

Moses co-founded BCCP back in 2014, and he’s been a key player in its growth and impact ever since. As Project Manager, he’s in charge of daily operations, managing staff and overseeing project implementation. He serves as a vital link between the local communities, government, and partner organisations. His role includes recruiting and onboarding new staff, preparing technical documents, and spearheading fundraising efforts to support and expand BCCP’s conservation initiatives.

Moses truly finds joy in his work with BCCP because it not only allows him to grow professionally but also keeps him actively involved in learning, building partnerships, and promoting environmental conservation. He loves seeing the tangible results of his team’s hard work on the ground, such as large-scale tree planting and habitat restoration. Moses trained as a forester. Under his guidance, BCCP has successfully planted about 7 million trees with an impressive 75% survival rate, boosted hundreds of farmer' incomes through our agroforestry initiatives, and enabled the conservation of chimpanzees and their habitats on private land. He takes great pride in knowing that his efforts are encouraging a positive shift in attitudes toward conservation, paving the way for lasting benefits for both communities and wildlife.

Vicent joined BCCP back in 2017 to monitor the chimpanzees in his local area – the Wagaisa community of chimpanzees. He quickly became a vital force in the world of chimpanzee conservation and community involvement in the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor. Vicent is dedicated to spreading the word about why it’s so important to protect these amazing creatures and to participate in conservation initiatives that benefit both the local people and the chimpanzees. His efforts are all about reducing the conflicts that arise between humans and chimpanzees by fostering a spirit of tolerance and coexistence.  

Further to his role as a Chimpanzee Monitor for his beloved Wagaisa chimps, Vicent helps Dr Matt monitor new groups of chimpanzees in the Budongo–Bugoma Corridor, including recruiting and training new Chimp Monitors from the local communities.  Vicent is also BCCP’s in-house engineer who carries out regular repairs to the water wells and boreholes constructed by the project, as well as other community water sources.

Vicent takes great pride in his role with BCCP, which has earned him respect in his community. Thanks to his hard work, the chimpanzees are safer than before, pressure on forests has decreased, and local communities have better access to clean water and other resources, which helps minimise the need to encroach on chimpanzee habitats. He loves deepening his understanding of chimpanzees, supporting his family through his conservation efforts, and being an active participant in the development of his community.

Nicholas started working with BCCP in 2022 as a Chimpanzee Monitor in his home area of Kihomboza. The Kihomboza chimpanzees spend a lot of time on Nicholas’s own family’s land, so he was well-positioned for the role!  Each day, Nicholas records the chimpanzees’ feeding, ranging and nesting behaviour, and their health status. He also plays a vital role in educating the local communities about how they can co-exist harmoniously with the chimps. Nicholas cherishes the friendships he's made through his work and the opportunity to work closely with chimpanzees, feeling strongly connected to nature. His work has positively impacted the conservation of chimpanzees in Kihomboza, reducing conflicts between them and local residents, and helping safeguard habitat for the animals. 

Additionally, Nicholas is an experienced poultry farmer and is a key member of the team implementing BCCP’s chicken project as an alternative livelihood for households living in chimpanzee ranges. 

Johnmary joined BCCP in 2018 as a Chimpanzee Monitor for the long-term study community of chimpanzees in Bulindi. As a local man, he grew up seeing the chimpanzees in his village. Johnmary plays a critical role in maintaining the long-term study of the chimpanzees in Bulindi. As the principal data collector, he follows the chimps every day from morning to evening, documenting all aspects of their behaviour. Johnmary knows the Bulindi chimpanzees better than anyone else, and they’re entirely relaxed in his presence!

Edison and John trained as Chimpanzee Monitors for the Mairirwe community of chimpanzees in 2019. Besides monitoring the health and behaviour of their chimps each day, Edison and John serve as a crucial bridge between the project and the local community. They’re the first point of contact when conflicts arise about the chimpanzees, and they assist the project’s education and community outreach programmes in local villages and schools. In addition to monitoring the Mairirwe chimpanzees, Edison and John are responsible for following up on reports and concerns about chimpanzees across the wider region in Kikuube District in the southern part of the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor. 

Edward joined BCCP in 2017 as a Tree Planting and Extension Officer and was subsequently appointed Assistant Manager in 2019. He primarily supervises BCCP’s tree planting staff, oversees nursery operations, trains farmers and monitors the progress of our tree planting projects in the field. Edward enjoys interacting positively with farmers, building good relationships with project beneficiaries, and seeing the planted trees grow. His work ensures that farmers receive high-quality tree seedlings, as well as the training and support required to gain increased survival rates of trees.

Sanny Claire Tulinawe has played a vital role in BCCP since she joined in 2023. She primarily supervises and trains the Village Savings Loan Associations (VSLA) sponsored by the project. In this role, she collaborates closely with local communities that coexist with chimpanzees to enhance their financial literacy and help them establish sustainable livelihoods that don’t bring them into conflict with the chimps. Several hundred women in 10 ‘hotspot’ villages within chimpanzee ranges in the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor have gained access to affordable loans, launched small businesses and boosted their incomes because of BCCP’s VSLA initiative.  

Sanny also supervises the project’s energy-saving cookstove programme, which reduces household fuelwood consumption in local villages, freeing up valuable time for women and children to focus on business and education, respectively, while helping reduce deforestation. Sanny finds her work exciting and enjoyable; it has broadened her understanding of VSLA management, sharpened her communication skills, and allowed her to connect with a variety of communities living within the chimpanzee corridor landscape.

Patrick is a resident of Bulindi. He joined BCCP in 2015 as one of its first employees, initially to help run our first tree nursery. Today, he predominantly works as a VSLA and energy-saving stoves supervisor, while also providing support at the Bulindi tree nursery. Together with his colleague Sanny, Patrick mobilises members to join VSLA savings groups, assists in group formation and supervision, and trains women on proper group and financial management. Patrick enjoys the positive feedback he receives from project beneficiaries and the employment and social networks his work generates. He has played a key role in enabling community members to access low-interest loans, significantly improving their financial stability. Patrick’s efforts have helped to increase household incomes, reduce conflicts about the chimpanzees, and decrease deforestation, especially in his home area of Bulindi.

Alex joined BCCP as a Tree Extension and Planting Officer in 2019. Since then, he’s been a driving force in the project’s reforestation efforts and farmer engagement, enrolling beneficiaries in tree-planting initiatives and offering agricultural extension services across the region where BCCP operates. This position allows him to connect deeply with local communities, championing sustainable land use and conservation practices.

During his time with BCCP, Alex has observed a noticeable increase in reforestation, better incomes for farmers, and improved living standards for numerous households. By supplying free tree seedlings and promoting the planting of indigenous trees, he feels that the project is making a real difference in environmental restoration and building climate resilience. He loves being out in the field, learning from local farmers, and interacting with diverse communities to create a lasting positive impact on the environment.

In addition to his central role in BCCP’s agroforestry and tree carbon programmes, Alex coordinates with BCCP’s Chimpanzee Monitors, ensuring they have the supplies they need and backing up their field data.

Jonus joined BCCP in 2018 and works as a Tree Extension and Planting Officer in Kikuube and Kagadi districts, in the southern portion of BCCP’s area of operation. He onboards farmers for the carbon agroforestry project, trains them in tree growing techniques, and manages the project tree nursery in Kagadi. Jonus ensures high-quality seedlings are available for planting each season and provides guidance to farmers to enhance tree seedling survival. During his years with BCCP, Jonus has trained many hundreds of farmers in tree planting techniques and environmental conservation, established thriving tree nurseries in Kikuube and Kagadi districts, and provided high-quality tree seedlings to countless farmers.

Hilda’s journey with BCCP began back in 2014, when she assisted Dr Matt McLennan and colleagues in research projects involving local communities. Fast forward to 2022, Hilda was appointed as a full-time Community Education Officer. In this position, she provides education, outreach, and support to schools and communities throughout the Budongo–Bugoma Corridor to promote greater understanding about chimpanzees and aid peaceful coexistence between people and their chimpanzee neighbours. Her work helps to ease tensions between local communities and the chimpanzees, and at times involves assisting the Uganda Wildlife Authority in their crucial work to sensitise residents on wildlife issues.

Hilda also plays a crucial role in the project’s ‘Safe Water’ programme, helping manage the water sources (wells and boreholes) provided by BCCP and training communities on hygiene and health matters.  

What really brings Hilda joy is seeing positive changes in social behaviours, especially among children, and noticing a drop in negative human-chimpanzee interactions. She’s deeply passionate about safeguarding women and children living in chimpanzee ranges and takes pride in her efforts to ensure their welfare. Her work has made a significant difference—empowering children with the knowledge they need to stay safe, dispelling misconceptions about chimpanzees, promoting tree conservation to safeguard chimpanzee habitats, and teaching communities how to resolve conflicts about the animals. Additionally, her work has led to improved hygiene and fewer disease outbreaks in areas where new water sources have been established.

James joined BCCP in 2024, working alongside Hilda as a Community Education Officer. With Hilda, he inspects water sources, sensitises communities on how to coexist with chimpanzees, and implements school outreach programs. Most recently, James is part of the team implementing a poultry rearing (chicken) project, as an alternative livelihood for households living next to the forest who struggle to plant food cash crops because the chimpanzees eat them! James has learned a lot through his work with BCCP and enjoys working with communities to solve problems and conserve chimps. James feels that his efforts are improving community attitudes towards chimpanzees, helping to foster a more peaceful co-existence, while also facilitating the community’s access to clean water.