DR. RICHARD SSUNA – PROJECT MANAGER

Dr. Ssuna is originally from Entebbe, Uganda. His main area of focus in his professional career is animal welfare. Upon graduating from Makerere University in Uganda-with a Bachelors of Veterinary Medicine in 1999, he opened a small animal practice and at the same time began working with the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA).

During this period, Richard attended a 6-month course in Maryland, USA, where he studied animal management, surgery and rescue, as well as shelter management and fundraising.

And in 2001, he took on a joint position at the Jane Goodall Institute-JGI and the Chimpanze Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust/Ngamba Island-CSWCT in May 2001. Here Dr Ssuna served as the Sanctuary Manager of Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and a Field Programs Manager of JGI-Uganda. As the Veterinarian, he was responsible for ensuring that the chimpanzees were healthy through administering over the preventative medicine at the sanctuary, while responding to and managing any diseases or injuries. And as a Manager, his focus was on the staff and the smooth operation of the island sanctuary but was involved in veterinary interventions of wild mountain gorillas, buffalos, chimpanzees and was engaged in international transfers of white rhinos from Kenya to Uganda.

Between 2003-2004, Dr. Ssuna completed a Masters of Science in Wildlife Animal Health at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. In January 2004, he accepted a position of CSWCT Operations Director.

In July 2008, he joined the Born Free Foundation People Animal and Wildlife Pilot Project as the Veterinary Consultant at the Lilongwe Wildlife Center. His responsibilities included caring for the center’s animal population and managing the staff and other veterinary responsibilities.

In 2009 he accepted the Project Director at the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA) to set up the RSPCA supported organization. He maintains his veterinary consultancy duties at the wildlife center. As Project Director, Dr. Ssuna initiates, coordinates and runs various programs including education, free spay/neuter, rescue and rehoming program and veterinary clinics. He is also charged with creating a working atmosphere with the other stakeholders and collaborators as well as ensuring the financial sustainability of the organization.

Sponsored By