By Dr. Aaron Bataamye | Veterinarian/ Sanctuary Manager.
GLOBAL GIVING REPORT – JANUARY 2026
Introduction:
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in 1998 through a collaboration of national and international organizations. The sanctuary is dedicated to the care and welfare of entrusted chimpanzees, while also conserving the sanctuary's ecosystem and implementing a long-term strategy for chimpanzee and habitat conservation in Uganda and beyond.
The sanctuary is currently home to 55 orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, including two babies born at the end of November 2025, whose day-to-day welfare needs are provided for by the Chimpanzee Trust. This includes veterinary healthcare, feeding, enrichment, infrastructural renovations, and staffing.
Chimpanzee Feeding:
We are grateful for the generous financial support received through the GlobalGiving platform. We have been able to provide food for 55 chimpanzees at the sanctuary. Approximately 90% of their diet is procured from the market and consists of fresh foods such as tomatoes, eggs, onions, cassava, cabbage, papaya, okra, red beans, and bananas.
Dry rations include cornmeal, millet, and soy flour. The chimpanzees maintain a consistent feeding routine four times a day at 8:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 6:00 PM.
Day-to-day welfare:
Enrichment materials such as hay, grass, and hammocks are regularly repaired to ensure comfortable bedding for the chimpanzees at night.
In addition, honey and peanuts are provided to chimpanzees to minimize abnormal behaviors like fighting and coprophagy.
Veterinary Care:
The chimpanzees are monitored daily by the resident veterinarian and a committed and experienced team of caregivers for any signs of illness or injury. Over the past three months, we registered 18 minor injuries and one major injury. The minor injuries, resulting from community tensions related to competition for mates, hierarchy, and food, were managed with topical antiseptic wound spray, and one case required stitching.
Additionally, chimpanzees over 30 years old receive monthly multivitamins to boost their immune systems. All chimpanzees were dewormed regularly with Albendazole and Praziquantel.
Medical Ward Renovations:
We completed renovations to the medical ward, including replacing worn-out iron sheets on the roof and repainting the facility. The worn-out chimp tables in the recovery room were also replaced. These improvements have enhanced the facility's appearance, eliminated leaks, and minimized contamination.
Nursing chimps and their babies are closely observed and cared for well, and thereafter, following the standard protocols, we carefully integrate them to rejoin their families back in the forest.
Call for Continued Support:
The Sanctuary continues to rely on financial support from donors and passionate conservationists to enhance the healthcare and welfare of the orphaned chimpanzees under our care. On January 31, 2026, a massive storm battered Ngamba Island, and the high-security fence standing 16.4 feet tall was compromised. The pressure was too much, and the structure is now leaning against our main perimeter fence. Please check out: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-repairs-of-the-chimpanzee-fence/
We are deeply grateful for your generosity and look forward to your continued support.
Links:
By Joshua Rukundo | Director
By Dr Aroni | Project Manager
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
