Save Wildlife Uganda

About the founders:

Eric Ndorere, Co-Founder, was born and raised in the Nyanga community, which borders the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP).  After secondary school, Eric enrolled in the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute Jinja and graduated in Wildlife and Tourism Management.  After graduation, he joined the Uganda Wildlife Authority as a park ranger and posted in the Mgahinga National Park.  A short time later, Eric was transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for two and one-half years.  While at Bwindi, he participated in gorilla habituation, the gorilla census, and guiding across the border under the International Gorilla Conservation Program.  Eric joined Marasa Africa based in Murchison Falls National Park as group head guide and trained in wildlife capture by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.  Over the years, he has participated in various captures and translocations across the national parks.  From 2012-2015, Eric became head guide at Premier Safaris, Ltd. after which time he decided to become a private safari guide with a concentration on wildlife conservation, a position he currently holds.

In March, 2021, six of Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions were poisoned and dismembered by members of his very own community.  This affected Eric greatly and one of the many reasons why he’s so passionate about the Lights for Lions Uganda deterrent system as well as establishing a Community Center where locals can be sensitized, realize the benefits of preserving their natural heritage and how to co-exist alongside wildlife.

Stacey Sadelfeld, Co-Founder.  Born and raised in New York, NY (USA).  She has been traveling to Africa since the late 1990’s and felt an immediate connection to the people and the wildlife.  During a 2019 visit to Uganda, Eric was Stacey’s guide, and they discussed at length their passion and dedication to wildlife conservation as well as realizing the needs of the local communities and the challenges they face with Human-Wildlife Conflict.  After the 2021 poisonings of the tree-climbing lions, Stacey and Eric joined forces to establish an organization that could both address the tremendous pressure wildlife is under with a growing human population and habitat loss, but also offer the community incentives to realize the benefits that come along with protecting Uganda’s precious wildlife.  In June, 2022 Stacey was made aware of a system being used in Kenya whereas strobe lights are installed on farmers’ bomas that flash at night and keep predators from breeching it and killing livestock.  To date, Eric has outfitted 11 bomas in what we are calling Lights for Lions Uganda, which has proven to be an overwhelming success.  Stacey also manages WildlifeUganda.org’s social media pages.

History:

The 2021 crime against Uganda’s natural heritage was not only inflicted on the local community who realize the value of their wildlife, but also to the tourism industry, that was already reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Mission Statement:

To sensitize, educate, and train communities in Ishasha/Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) on how to protect wildlife.  Empower and provide social services, such as education and health in the communities of Ishasha sector/QENP.

Our objectives:

  • Engage people in activities geared towards understanding revenue sharing allocations to the wildlife affected communities
  • To advocate for sensitive nature heritage environment for promotion of tourism and agro-forestry.
  • To advocate for rural development through preservation of wildlife in communities around QENP.
  • To provide open space, recreational tourism, and cultural heritage opportunities in the wildlife affected areas of the Ishasha sector/QENP.
  • To support social needs of the rapidly growing population of communities around the Ishasha sector/QENP.
  • To train specific groups of people in the use of technology for communicating and accessing ideas which are relevant to the development of wildlife rights.
  • To mobilize resources for community empowerment through sustainable livelihood programs that promote better services in communities around Ishasha.
  • To outfit bomas in the Hamukungu village with our “Lights for Lions Uganda” deterrent system.

Current Projects:

  • Outfitting bomas in the Hamukungu and Kasenyi villages with our “Lights for Lions Uganda” deterrent system.
  • Train the “Women for Conservation Uganda” team in basket making so they sell their products and become self-sufficient.
  • Provide food to the children at the Queen Elizabeth Nursery School.
  • Funding for the construction of a Community Center, which will be the Wildlife Uganda Headquarters and where travelers can visit and buy handmade crafts, use the washrooms, and get information on our projects. Below is the blueprint. Please contact us for more details, including sponsorship levels to get your name or that of your business displayed on the building.
Blueprint for construction of visitor center; estimated cost: $27,000.

Future Projects:

  • Engage people in activities geared towards understanding revenue sharing allocations to the wildlife affected communities
  • To advocate for sensitive nature heritage environment for promotion of tourism and Argo-forestry.
  • To advocate for rural development through preservation of wildlife in communities around QENP.
  • To provide open space, recreational tourism, and cultural heritage opportunities in the wildlife affected areas of the Ishasha sector/QENP.
  • To support social needs of the rapidly growing population of communities around the Ishasha sector/QENP.
  • To train specific groups of people in the use of technology for communicating and accessing ideas which are relevant to the development of wildlife rights.
  • To mobilize resources for community empowerment through sustainable livelihood programs that promote better services in communities around Ishasha.
  • Supporting reformed poachers with different livelihood programs like piggery, fishing, farming, and goat keeping.
  • To train semi-educated young boys and girls in guiding and hospitality skills and distribute them to nearby lodges as a way to eliminate future poachers.
  • Scholarships for vulnerable children.
  • SMART agricultural practice or modern farming, teaching communities how to make handcrafts for purchase by tourists.
  • Replacement of livestock killed by predators in our area of operation.

For more information, contact us:

  • Mailing address: Ndorere Eric, PO Box 3113 Kampala, Uganda

How you can support these programs:

You can donate online (credit card, Venmo, Paypal) by making a donation via this link below. If you like to donate via other means (such as check or other methods), please visit our donation page.

(credit: NTV Uganda; aired September 4, 2022)

Picture gallery documenting some of our ongoing activities (click on each picture to see an enlarged version)