Africa-Press – Uganda. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has officially launched a Shs95 billion (USD 25 million) regional initiative aimed at addressing the interconnected health threats facing humans, animals, and the environment across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The ‘One Health’ project, unveiled at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on Thursday, was officiated by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa. The initiative is designed to strengthen disease prevention and response capacities within the Greater Virunga landscape, a region known for its rich biodiversity and frequent human-wildlife interactions.
“This project is very welcome, especially in light of recent pandemics like COVID-19 that exposed our vulnerabilities. Diseases do not respect borders. Even if we as politicians fail to integrate, nature and disease already are. That’s why a regional approach like this is critical,” Tayebwa said.
“Efforts of this nature are very critical if we are to keep up with demands of nature or else nature will hit us badly through pandemics and crises and you find us running around and spending billions of shillings. We would rather spend these billions to prevent these pandemics than wait for them to happen and we panic.”
The initiative will focus on improving detection, prevention, and response to zoonotic diseases — those that jump from animals to humans — by building local capacity, strengthening laboratory infrastructure, and enhancing cross-border collaboration.
WWF Uganda Country Director Ivan Tumuhimbise highlighted the importance of the project in equipping local communities and governments to better manage disease risks stemming from shared natural resources.
“People, livestock, and wildlife in this landscape share water sources and land. If there’s a disease outbreak in one, it can quickly spread to others,” said Tumuhimbise. “This project aims to build community awareness, invest in laboratory infrastructure, and promote co-existence between people and nature.”
About 40% of the $25 million funding will be allocated to Uganda, with implementation support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and relevant ministries in all three countries.
Dr. Andrew Seguya, Executive Secretary of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, emphasized the region’s vulnerability to zoonotic diseases like Ebola, anthrax, monkeypox, and Marburg.
“The forested and protected areas in the Greater Virunga region are hotspots for interactions between wildlife, livestock, and humans, creating a high risk for disease transmission,” Dr. Seguya said.
“This project will train health and veterinary workers, improve disease surveillance, and empower communities through education.”
The One Health approach is seen as a strategic shift towards integrated disease preparedness in a region grappling with environmental pressures, public health challenges, and fragile ecosystems.
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