Harriet Kokugonza leads Conservation Education & Skilling at Tooro Botanical Gardens (TBG), a centre of excellence in plant research, conservation, education and community-oriented green jobs in Fort Portal. Harriets work in TBG includes facilitating education on native species propagation, threatened tree species (e.g. Prunus africana, Olea welwitschii), community attachments to wild trees, and participatory restoration and agroforestry trials with indigenous food tree species. Through these, she is likely well-versed in the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity (especially conservation and sustainable use). She has operational experience in the conservation and utilisation of genetic resources. Her education & skilling role requires embedding best practices for access and benefit-sharing (ABS), ensuring communities providing plant material are recognised, involved, and equitably share benefits (whether in research, products or knowledge). She supports plant propagation, documentation (including nurseries and seed surveys), and research partnerships, positioning her to engage with Nagoya Protocol obligations, particularly regarding prior informed consent, mutually agreed-upon terms, and benefit-sharing with local custodians.
