Director Government Relations & Protected Area Management
Tom Okello Obong is a seasoned natural resources management professional with nearly three decades of experience in forestry, wildlife conservation, environmental governance, and public administration. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and a Master of Science in Environment from Makerere University, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Management from the Uganda Management Institute.
From 2018 to 2024, he served as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Uganda’s National Forestry Authority, providing strategic leadership in forestry policy implementation, forest management planning, institutional administration, and stakeholder coordination. He also served as Secretary to the Board of Directors.
Prior to this, he held senior leadership positions at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, including Chief Warden and later Assistant Director in charge of Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls Conservation Areas, overseeing several national parks and wildlife reserves across Uganda. In these roles, he worked closely with UCF as a long-standing conservation partner of UWA in community conservation, protected area management, and sustainable natural resource initiatives.
Tom has played a key role in implementing Uganda’s forestry and wildlife laws and has represented Uganda on various international climate and environmental platforms. He now joins UCF as a Director in Uganda, bringing extensive leadership, governance, and conservation expertise to the Board of Directors.