Wildlife Conservation Uganda Project #46722

Support orphaned and wild Chimpanzees in Uganda

by Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Support orphaned and wild Chimpanzees in Uganda

Project Report | Aug 18, 2026
Project Updates

By Dr. Aaron Bataamye | Veterinarian/ Sanctuary Manager.

Chimpanzee examination during the health checks.

Currently, Chimpanzee Trust cares for 54 orphaned chimpanzees whose survival, health, and well-being are made possible through the generosity and commitment of our supporters. Your contributions have enabled us to provide food, medical care, shelter, protection, and a safe environment for these incredible animals.

Conservation is a collective responsibility, and every contribution makes a difference. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership and appeal for your support as we work together to give these chimpanzees the care they deserve.

Keeping Our Chimpanzees Healthy

In July, we successfully concluded our routine chimpanzee health checks, an important part of ensuring the well-being of the animals under our care. The veterinary team carried out comprehensive examinations on every individual chimp.

We have maintained regular health checks that allow us to identify potential health concerns early and ensure that appropriate treatment and preventive care are provided.

Conservation beyond the Sanctuary

Our work extends beyond caring for chimpanzees at the sanctuary. We continue to conduct research and engage communities living in areas where chimpanzees occur in the wild.

We have placed particular emphasis on conservation education among school-going children because we believe conservation begins with awareness from an early age. Through these engagements, children learn about chimpanzees, their habitats, the threats they face, and the role they can play in protecting wildlife.

We have also supported tree-planting activities as part of our efforts to promote habitat restoration and encourage communities to take an active role in environmental conservation.

Chimpanzees have continued to be fed 4 times a day in the morning, mid-morning, afternoon, and in the evening, and food deliveries from the mainland have continued every 10 days.

We were deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Asega, one of the chimpanzees under our care. His passing was a painful moment for our staff, caregivers, and the chimpanzees who shared a home.

School outreach on basic conservation practices.

Caregivers serving a meal to chimpanzees.

Asega before his demise.

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Jun 12, 2026
Project Updates

By Dr. Aaron Bataamye | Veterinarian/ Sanctuary Manager.

Caregiver providing cabbage, as an evening snack.

Introduction:

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in 1998 through a collaboration of national and international organizations. The sanctuary is dedicated to providing the highest standards of healthcare and welfare for entrusted chimpanzees, while conserving the sanctuary’s ecosystem and implementing long-term strategies for chimpanzee and habitat conservation both at Ngamba and across Uganda.

Currently, the sanctuary is home to 55 orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, including two captive-born infants welcomed in November 2025. Their daily welfare needs are met by the Chimpanzee Trust, which oversees feeding, enrichment, veterinary care, infrastructure maintenance, and staffing.

Chimpanzee Feeding:

We are deeply grateful for the generous financial support received through the GlobalGiving platform, which has enabled us to provide food for all 55 chimpanzees. Approximately 90% of their diet is sourced from the market and consists of dry rations such as cornmeal mixed with lentils, millet, and soy flour. Fresh foods include cabbage, papaya, potatoes, okra, tomatoes, eggs, onions, cassava, red beans, and bananas.

Feeding is carried out routinely both outdoors and indoors (in the holding facility) by caregivers.

The chimpanzees follow a consistent schedule of four meals daily at 8:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 6:00 PM.

Day-to-Day Welfare:

Enrichment materials such as hay, grass, and hammocks are regularly repaired to ensure comfortable bedding at night. Caregivers also provide honey and peanuts to reduce abnormal behaviors such as fighting and coprophagy.

Enrichment materials such as hay, grass, and hammocks are regularly repaired to ensure comfortable bedding for the chimpanzees at night.

Veterinary Care:

The chimpanzees are monitored daily by the resident veterinarian and a dedicated team of caregivers for signs of illness or injury. Over the past three months, 23 minor injuries and five major injuries were recorded. Minor injuries, often resulting from group tensions over mates, hierarchy, and food, were treated with topical antiseptic sprays, while four cases required stitching.

Chimpanzees over 30 years of age receive monthly multivitamins to boost immunity. Additionally, all chimpanzees are regularly dewormed using a standard anthelmintic cycle.

Gabion Wall Repairs:

Strong lake winds continually push water against the shore, causing erosion and damage to the gabion walls. This creates holes and cracks that could lead to potential escapes.

To address this, weak points are promptly reinforced. Plastic-coated galvanized boxes are laid, filled with hardcore stones, and strengthened with Y-16 iron bars. These structures provide stability and durability against the elements.

Call for Continued Support:

The sanctuary continues to rely on the generosity of donors and conservationists to enhance the healthcare and welfare of the orphaned chimpanzees under our care. With your support, we have been able to fulfill much of our mandate both on and off the island.

We remain deeply grateful for your contributions and look forward to your continued partnership.

Resident Vet and volunteer stitching Kalema.

A caregiver, serving evening porridge.

Erecting a gabion wall at the water-end.

Hillary, a caregiver providing bedding materials.

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Feb 13, 2026
Project Updates

By Dr. Aaron Bataamye | Veterinarian/ Sanctuary Manager.

Surprise and her baby integrated in the forest.

GLOBAL GIVING REPORT – JANUARY 2026

Introduction:

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in 1998 through a collaboration of national and international organizations. The sanctuary is dedicated to the care and welfare of entrusted chimpanzees, while also conserving the sanctuary's ecosystem and implementing a long-term strategy for chimpanzee and habitat conservation in Uganda and beyond.

The sanctuary is currently home to 55 orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, including two babies born at the end of November 2025, whose day-to-day welfare needs are provided for by the Chimpanzee Trust. This includes veterinary healthcare, feeding, enrichment, infrastructural renovations, and staffing.

Chimpanzee Feeding:

We are grateful for the generous financial support received through the GlobalGiving platform. We have been able to provide food for 55 chimpanzees at the sanctuary. Approximately 90% of their diet is procured from the market and consists of fresh foods such as tomatoes, eggs, onions, cassava, cabbage, papaya, okra, red beans, and bananas.

Dry rations include cornmeal, millet, and soy flour. The chimpanzees maintain a consistent feeding routine four times a day at 8:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 6:00 PM.

Day-to-day welfare:

Enrichment materials such as hay, grass, and hammocks are regularly repaired to ensure comfortable bedding for the chimpanzees at night.

In addition, honey and peanuts are provided to chimpanzees to minimize abnormal behaviors like fighting and coprophagy.

Veterinary Care:

The chimpanzees are monitored daily by the resident veterinarian and a committed and experienced team of caregivers for any signs of illness or injury. Over the past three months, we registered 18 minor injuries and one major injury. The minor injuries, resulting from community tensions related to competition for mates, hierarchy, and food, were managed with topical antiseptic wound spray, and one case required stitching.

Additionally, chimpanzees over 30 years old receive monthly multivitamins to boost their immune systems. All chimpanzees were dewormed regularly with Albendazole and Praziquantel.

Medical Ward Renovations:

We completed renovations to the medical ward, including replacing worn-out iron sheets on the roof and repainting the facility. The worn-out chimp tables in the recovery room were also replaced. These improvements have enhanced the facility's appearance, eliminated leaks, and minimized contamination.

Nursing chimps and their babies are closely observed and cared for well, and thereafter, following the standard protocols, we carefully integrate them to rejoin their families back in the forest.

Call for Continued Support:

The Sanctuary continues to rely on financial support from donors and passionate conservationists to enhance the healthcare and welfare of the orphaned chimpanzees under our care. On January 31, 2026, a massive storm battered Ngamba Island, and the high-security fence standing 16.4 feet tall was compromised. The pressure was too much, and the structure is now leaning against our main perimeter fence. Please check out: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-repairs-of-the-chimpanzee-fence/

We are deeply grateful for your generosity and look forward to your continued support.

Outdoor chimp feeding by a caregiver

Hay provided daily for bedding and enrichment.

Okech after stitching a traumatic facial wound.

Routine fence repair by caregivers.

Indoor supplementary feeding with porridge,

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