Good morning!  I am pleased to share the stage today with the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Professor Ephraim Kamuntu.  And I would like to thank Executive Director James Musinguzi for allowing me to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, or UWEC.  I loved interacting so closely with some of the animals that represent Uganda’s incredible natural heritage. 

I am delighted to join all of you today to recognize UWEC’s important role in conservation education and to formally launch the Children’s Activity Book, developed in partnership with USAID’s Biodiversity Program.  I am proud to say that the U.S. Government has supported biodiversity conservation in Uganda for over 25 years.  And, to this day, USAID remains committed to promoting the sustainable management of Uganda’s natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

Through our partner, the African Wildlife Foundation, USAID is working to achieve sustainable biodiversity conservation and local economic growth in five priority geographic areas across Uganda.  Together, we are working to increase the appreciation of the value of Uganda’s biodiversity by Uganda’s citizens. Developing and disseminating educational materials, like this Children’s Activity Book raise awareness about the benefits of conservation. Understanding and appreciating these benefits is the foundation of a strong conservation ethic. But, it is the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and attitudes about biodiversity – from parent to child and child to parent – that will help stimulate the behavior change necessary to sustain the conservation of Uganda’s natural endowment for generations to come.

With almost 50 percent of the population under the age of 15, youth is the cornerstone that will ensure Uganda’s goal of becoming a middle-income country does not come at the expense of its long-term prosperity.  Conserving Uganda’s natural wealth is fundamental to achieving that vision and the United States and Uganda have a mutual interest in harnessing the potential of youth to achieve a peaceful, prosperous, healthy and democratic future. That is why USAID and the African Wildlife Foundation are working with communities in priority areas to increase community and landowner benefits from biodiversity conservation and wildlife-friendly enterprises.  From the community Wildlife Scouts who are monitoring wildlife outside of neighboring protected areas and helping to reduce human-wildlife conflict and Forest Management Groups that are working with the Government of Uganda to improve co-management of natural resources, to the young men and women who are building new livelihoods through wildlife-friendly bee-keeping and chili pepper production, Ugandans from Kidepo Valley to Kalinzu Forest are proving to their neighbors that conservation and economic growth are not mutually exclusive.

However, communities cannot do this alone.  Ugandans need a firm commitment from their government to provide comprehensive legal frameworks, strong, accountable institutions and the political will to support conservation at a national level. This is why legislation like the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Act and the proposed Wildlife Bill are so important. 

Wildlife across Africa is under direct threat from human activity.  As international demand for wildlife products grows, this problem can no longer be treated as a purely localized one, nor can we afford to view wildlife trafficking only as a threat to wildlife.  Like other forms of illicit trade, wildlife trafficking undermines Uganda’s national security and its long-term prosperity.  It is a serious crime that deserves a serious response. Consequently, I urge the Government of Uganda to do three things: one, take the actions necessary to ensure a strong legal framework to improve management of wildlife and biodiversity resources both inside and outside of protected areas; two, provide a mechanism for greater community participation in wildlife management; and three, better address both domestic wildlife crime and international trade in wildlife and wildlife products.

I’m pleased to say that the United States and Uganda are both sponsoring resolutions at the upcoming Conference of Parties for the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES (SIGH tees), in Johannesburg, South Africa at the end of September.  If adopted, these resolutions will increase international protection for iconic species like the elephant.  However, we recognize that other, less dynamic species deserve protection too. That is why we are also sponsoring resolutions to strengthen the protection of all eight species of pangolin and the African gray parrot, among others. I urge the Ugandan delegation to join us in this effort to conserve not only the wildlife we have here in Uganda but also species of global importance.

In closing, I would like to thank again UWEC and the African Wildlife Foundation for your collaboration and hard work in demonstrating the value of Uganda’s biodiversity and cultivating a spirit of reverence for this country’s incredible natural heritage among the coming generations of young people. I am honored to be a part of this effort and I look forward to witnessing the bright future for Uganda that we all know is possible. 

Thank you.