Project Leaders
Volunteer with the Jane Goodall Institute in Uganda

Debby Cox - Project Leader

Debby is the Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) Uganda. She initially studied to be a veterinary nurse before working with primates. Debby first began her work with chimps at Taronga Zoo, Australia, in 1986 where she was the Deputy Division Head for the African Division. After 8 years at Taronga, Debby went to Burundi where she was the Co- Director, then Director for the Jane Goodall Institute-Burundi. Her main responsibilities were the care of orphaned chimpanzees confiscated by the local Wildlife Authorities and habituating a community of wild chimpanzees in the Kibira National Park for eco-tourism.

Debby arrived in Uganda in 1996. She initially worked as an advisor to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, developing training programmes for the zookeepers and assisting in the design and development of new exhibits for the animals. During this time, Debby worked on developing a sanctuary for the chimpanzees that were housed at the centre and for future confiscated chimps.

Once Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was operational, Debby then took on the role of Project Director for CSWCT as well as maintained her role with JGI Uganda. In 2004, Debby’s concentrated her efforts back on to JGI-Uganda and took on a more regional role for JGI globally, assisting JGI South Africa and Congo Brazzaville with their respective sanctuaries and management.

Dr Peter Apell - Project Staff

Peter is from Ibuje, Apac District in North Eastern Uganda. In 2000 he graduated at the top of his class from Makerere University in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. By the time he graduated he had already set up a farm complex in Lira district, volunteered with the USPCA (Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals), worked with the Rotary Club of Kampala on a community education programme focused on income generation via farming for local women’s groups. In the third year of his degree, Peter was introduced to wildlife medicine and conservation - “I just wanted to find out more and more about how to reach out to wildlife. From the first lecture I was hooked!” Peter loves challenges and saw in wildlife two of his passions: something in need and a vast challenge. He joined CSWCT in June 2001 as a Veterinary Officer and still works for them as an advisor. For JGI Uganda Peter is in charge of all the field projects.