During his visit to Ngamba Chimpanzee Island on Lake Victoria, Philip Davis, the Prime Minister of Bahamas, commended Uganda's conservation efforts saying, such moves help to preserve the natural habitat for future generations.  

Davis was led by David Bahati, Uganda's Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, to an afternoon excursion via Lake Victoria. 

"Many years ago as a high school student of Africa, I studied about the great lake of Africa, Lake Victoria, and always dreamed of seeing that lake. It was a great feeling sailing on this beautiful lake and reminiscing about what I studied so many years ago," he added.

Amos Okello (left) a senior animal keeper at Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary explaining to the Bahamas prime minister and minister David Bahati about chimpanzees at Ngamba island. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

The trip which was coordinated by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), saw Davis and his entourage feed the 53 chimpanzees on the island, an activity they termed as a lifetime experience. 

"I want to commend the work done here by the Chimpanzee Trust for taking care of our closest cousins. Unfortunately, human behaviour has not been too kind to nature including our animals among other wildlife," Philip Davis expressed.  

He appreciated Ngamba Island managers for being great stewards of conserving the orphaned chimpanzees. Apart from chimpanzees, the sanctuary boasts of monitor lizards, otters and several species of birds, all engrossed in the serene environment. 

Bahati appreciated Davis’ visit to Ngamba Island and Lake Victoria saying, these are some of the outcomes of the NAM summit. 

Dr Joshua Rukundo, the executive director for Ngamba Chimpanzee Island, noted that this year's goal is to seek US$1,000,000 (sh3.8b) for safe investments to complement annual income and sustain the sanctuary's operations independently.  

"Generous contributions from individuals and donor organisations have enabled us to maintain the well-being of our resident chimps, ensuring they receive shelter and four nutritious meals daily," Rukundo stated. 

Acknowledging the seismic shifts in the global landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, Ngamba chimpanzee management reimagined its strategies which seek to foster harmonious coexistence between humans, wildlife and the environment on which they depend. 

"As we embark on 2024, our dedication to conserving chimpanzees, preserving habitats and nurturing environmental stewardship remains unwavering. We aim to expand our initiatives, innovate conservation strategies and further advance wildlife preservation," further stated Rukundo.

Philip Davis (left) the Prime Minister of Bahamas with David Bahati the minister of trade, industry and cooperatives arriving at Ngamba Chimpanzee island on Saturday. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

On her part, Lilly Ajarova, the UTB chief executive officer, recognised the profound impact of hosting significant events like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit and the G77+China summit.  

"Such events present platforms to explore and exhibit our local tourism products, achievements and capabilities to a diverse global audience. This exposure is a catalyst for attracting investments, fostering international collaborations and boosting our tourism industry," Ajarova remarked. 

She further noted that the influx of delegates and participants during these summits not only benefits the capital, but also ripples through the local economies, from accommodation to local businesses.

According to the UTB boss, the economic impact is substantial, contributing to sustainable growth and development. 

Bahamas is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean with an economy based on tourism and offshore finance.