Eco Specialists Staff Profile
Robert Kungujje - Managing Director
1992-1994. Volunteered as a Community Health Worker under Community based Health Care and Primary Health Care.
April 1995 to date a Tour Guide.
1994/1995 Field Training in Trees, birds and animals identification by Uganda’s Forestry Department
1998 headed the formation of the Mabira Forest Guides and Extension Association which delivers Ecotourism services to the Mabira Eco-Tourism Centre.
1997–2001 Conducted Conservation Education (CE) for schools around Uganda’s Forests.
1999 worked with Dr. Eric Sande of Makerere University- Zoology Department surveying on the Nahan’s francolin in Uganda’s forests – a globally threatened species.
Aug 2000 worked with the Makerere University during the African Tropical Biodiversity surveys to establish the Biodiversity status for Mabira Forest.
2001 headed the formation of the Mabira Forest Integrated Community Organisation (MAFICO) formed by the people living with in and around Mabira Forest for conservation and development.
2002 Worked with the Forestry Department to develop an Environment Education Guide Book for primary school teachers in Uganda
July 2003 worked with Dr. Richard Fuller of University of Sheffield and group to survey the decline of a globally threatened bird (Nahan’s Francolin) in Mabira Forest funded by the BP Conservation UK.
2004/2005: Trained by the National Hospitality College - Uganda in Tour
Guiding.
2005 April to August Designed and developed forest trails for the newly constructed Rainforest Eco lodge located in Mabira Forest.
2006 data collection and community sensitisation in the Forest Restoration in Eastern Africa, Indian Ocean and Madagascar (FOREAIM) project by Makerere University Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation in Mabira Forest - funded by EU.
April 2006 – Researched on the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on Nahan’s francolin in Mabira forest Courtesy of Makerere University.
Jan 2007 – Dec 2007 Training Forest Eco guides.
2006 - 2008 developing a new Ecotourism Centre near the Griffin Falls in Mabira Forest for MAFICO.
2008 Birds and Plants Inventories along the Nile River under the Adrift Adventure Company.
Current Birds List Total to 700 species.
Awards
2004 Awarded with a certificate of excellence in Forest management for Conservation of Biodiversity and sustainable production Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment under the Forest Resources Management and Conservation Program 2003 / 2004 bonus scheme funded by the EU.
2005 awarded with a certificate by the Jane Good hall Institute for promoting and Inspiring Conservation education in Uganda.
Member with Nature Uganda
Responsibilities
Secretary for Mabira Forest Guides and Extension Association.
General Secretary for Mabira Forest Integrated Community Organisation.
Currently Position:
Tour Guide / Driver
Ibrahim Senfuma - Director Field Operations
Has a total of over 950 species of birds on his list. First choice national bird guide in Uganda.
In 1994/95: Trained by the then Forest Department (FD) as site guide in Avi-fauna and flora. The areas of concentration were; Birds’ identification, butterflies, tropical vegetation, ecological interpretation, and game and primate identification.
Since 1995-2007: Guiding tourists with different national and international tour companies which has exposed him to several tour destinations and Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Uganda and the whole of Virunga Conservation Area (VCA). He has the skills to handle amateurs and skilled bird watchers (twitchers).
2001: Successfully completed a driving course. Driving since then, with a very clean record.
In 2001: Trained under the National Bird Guides Club as a national bird guide; and since then he has been doing a self-guided research about birds in different habitats, identifying them by sights and sounds.
2003: Ibrahim trained in the basics of first aid and rescue skills.
2003/2004: Ibrahim updated the birds’ list for Uganda’s tropical forests; a duty assigned to him by the Forest Department (FD) after realizing his competence in birds identification.
2003/2004: He trained site guides of Kalinzu and Mpanga forests in birds and primate identification. This exercise widened his knowledge about avifauna and flora.
2004/2005: Trained by the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute in tour guiding.
2006: Did a birds’ inventory with Adrift Adventure Company along the Mighty Nile River. Identifying the birds by sounds and sights; an exercise which exposed him to a number of water birds.
2008: Involved in a Birds’ Inventory in all the Rainforests of Uganda identifying them by sights and sounds with British Trust for Ornithology (B.T.O).
Ibrahim Senfuma is a member of Nature Uganda and National Bird Guides Club.
Peter Nsubuga - Director Public Relations
2002: Qualified high school teacher from Kyambogo University Kampala – Uganda.
2002-2005: Teaching Geography and Environmental Education in different schools in Uganda.
2003 to date: Active member of Mabira Forest Integrated Community Organisation (MAFICO).
2005-2007: Training in The Basics of Tour Guiding in Avi-fauna and Flora. Majoring in Ecological Interpretation, Vegetation and Bird Identification.
2005 to date: Volunteer Facilitator of the Community Score Card Program in Grade 111 hospitals – A Health Program managed by World Bank/ Government of Uganda.
2006: Part-time employee with City Plus Uganda Ltd; a renowned company in organizing conferences, tour/safaris and travel logistics.
2007 to date: Tour Guide with Eco-Specialists Tours Uganda Ltd.
RESEARCHED WORK
- Facts About Mabira Forest (Unpublished) 2007.
- A Synopsis of Major Uses of Important Trees and Shrubs of East Africa. (Unpublished) 2008.
- Causes of a High School Drop-Out Rate: Case Study-Primary Schools In Nangabo Sub-County, Wakiso District (Unpublished) 2001.
- The Impact of Small-Scale Agro-Based Industries to the People of Mpigi District (Unpublished) 2002.
A member of Nature Uganda
Rajab Kiyimba- Company Secretary
1999: Graduate teacher-(Geography and Economics)
Five years teaching experience at high school level.
2000/ 2001: Training in Eco-tourism Planning and Destination Management.
2001: Environmental Coordinator for Secondary Schools around Mabira Forest
Reserve
2002: Environmental Facilitator - Community Conservation Education
2003: Basic Training in Introduction to Botany.
2003: Volunteer Extension Officer on Community Tourism in Mabira Forest
Reserve.
2004: Executive Secretary - Mabira Forest Integrated Community Organisation
(MAFICO).
2004/ 2005: Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management.
2007: Supervisor - Griffin Falls Community Eco-tourism Centre
Member of Nature Uganda
