60 days of celebrating primatologist, conservation icon Jane Goodall

Legendary primatologist and conservation icon Dr Jane Goodall whose life’s work redefined humanity’s relationship with the natural world, is having her wish to be mourned for 60 days come true in Uganda, one of the countries she held close to her heart. 

Like the rest of the global community, her extraordinary life will be reviewed through a series of commemorations that blend reflection, science, and hope.

There are public dialogues, prayers, dinners, and book-signing ceremonies that kicked off at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. The books are available for signing at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe and online.

Speaking during a sombre press briefing at the Sheraton Hotel on October 7, 2025, Jane Goodall Institute-Uganda executive director James Byamukama requested mourners not to board aeroplanes to travel to the United States for the main vigil in San Francisco.

“This was Jane Goodall’s personal wish. She always believed that conservation begins with individual choices. By avoiding unnecessary air travel, we honour her mission to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet she cherished. Celebrate her virtually, in line with her lifelong environmental values,” requested Byamukama while signing a condolence book.

According to Byamukama, it will be shared globally through online platforms to minimise the use of paper and ink - a gesture that also echoes Goodall’s eco-conscious lifestyle.

Adding that, the first official memorial service will take place on October 14, 2025, at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala, with Goodall’s bosom friend, First Lady Janet Museveni, expected to attend as Chief Mourner.

A sumptuous dinner will follow at the EU Ambassadors' residence on October 19, 2025.
In rapid succession will be a Public Talk: Jane’s Green Hope, featuring Key keynote speakers on October 24, 2025, starting at 2:00pm at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

At a later date in 2026, to be communicated, guests will be invited to the official opening of Jane’s Green Hope Training Centre in Kikuube.

This demonstration centre is expected to illustrate the protection of our conservation targets, including chimpanzees and their habitat, to produce sustainable ecosystem services for human wellbeing in general and livelihood development for local communities.

Minister of Tourism Tom Butime and the one of State for Tourism Martin Mugarra hand over a plaque when the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda had a rhino named after her last month at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. (Credit: Titus Kakembo)

The facility will serve as a regional hub for wildlife education, ecological research, and community-based conservation, a living memorial to a woman who inspired millions to see the interconnectedness of all living things.

“Our greatest challenge now is to sustain her legacy. We must continue making the world a better place for all forms of life - human and animal alike. Goodall may have left this world physically, but her spirit of compassion, curiosity, and resilience will continue to guide us,” Byamukama said.

Sighs of relief were sucked in by an audience of conservationists, the media and beneficiaries who were told about how she went to sleep in her final moments. This was after sharing dinner with a close friend named Suzan.

Her passing marked the end of an era in wildlife conservation, but also the beginning of a renewed commitment to her ideals.

“The Green Hope Centre will ensure that her message endures in tangible ways. From Entebbe to Gombe, from the forests she studied to the classrooms that teach her story, Jane Goodall’s legacy will live on - a gentle reminder that hope, action, and empathy are the true instruments of change,” said Peter Apel from the Institute.

As part of the mourning period, the Jane Goodall Institute will also release the long-awaited chimpanzee and mountain gorilla census results from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - a study that Goodall followed closely.

The findings are expected to provide critical insight into the state of Uganda’s primate populations and the effectiveness of ongoing conservation measures.

“It is not just a time of mourning,” said Apel. “It’s a celebration of a life that transformed how humanity sees itself - not above nature, but as part of it.”

Dr Goodall’s relationship with Uganda ran deep. Her influence was evident in chimpanzee conservation projects at the Chimpanzee sanctuary in Ngamba Island, Kibale, and Budongo Forests.

The Ed Jane Goodall Institute Uganda, James Byamukama looks on as Head of Office Austrian Embassy Katja Kershbaumer signs the condolence book of Jane Goodlal at the Sheraton Hotel November 7, 2025. (Credit: Titus Kakembo)

She mentored generations of Ugandan researchers, rangers, and conservationists, nurturing a spirit of respect for wildlife that continues to shape the country’s environmental policies today.

The sixty days of mourning will feature activities reflecting her deep bond with the region: Candlelight vigils, children’s wildlife art exhibitions, and storytelling evenings at UWEC in Entebbe will bring communities together to celebrate her lifelong message of coexistence and compassion.

Members of the Roots & Shoots movement - the youth initiative she founded -  will hold reflection sessions and tree-planting drives to carry forward her vision of a sustainable world.

“Her message was simple yet profound,” said one Joshua Rukundo. “Every individual makes a difference, every day. Jane taught us that hope is a powerful form of activism.”

Across social media, tributes continue to pour in. Selfies of Goodall with high-profile figures, rangers, drivers, tour guides, and chefs fill timelines - each image a glimpse into the life of a heroine who treated everyone with equal warmth.

At the press event, Head of Austrian Embassy Katja Kaschbaumer recalled meeting Goodall at the Sheraton Hotel years ago.

“She gave me a book on conservation and carried a small stuffed ape wherever she went. Jane impacted animals and people in equal measure. Her message was always that the planet is big enough to be shared by all,” Kaschbaumer said with emotion.

As Uganda and the world mark these sixty days, one truth stands out: Jane Goodall’s influence transcends her lifetime. Her voice continues to echo in every reforestation project, every rescued chimpanzee, and every inspired child who dreams of protecting the planet.

She once said, “The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” Through the events planned in her honour, Uganda is ensuring that apathy is replaced by action - and that her legacy endures not in stone or statues, but in living forests and thriving wildlife.

Jane Goodall’s journey may have ended, but her mission lives on - in every act of kindness, every tree planted, and every young voice speaking for the voiceless.