Dr. Jane Bemigisha is the Executive Director, ESIPPS International Ltd. She holds a PhD in natural resources applying “Hyperspectral Remote Sensing and Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) for Mapping Livestock Grazing Intensity and Vegetation in Transhumant Mediterranean Conservation Areas”  from C.T. de Wit Graduate School-Production Ecology and Resource conservation – PE&RC, Wageningen University, and the International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth observation (ITC), the Netherlands. She has a MSc. (with Distinction) in Environmental Systems Monitoring and Analysis from ITC and holds a BA in Geography majoring in land use, resource assessment and applied climatology.

Jane has research experience and skills in integrating scientific, expert and local indigenous knowledge using participatory stakeholder engagement, GIS and remote sensing applied in various countries within Africa and Europe.

Dr. Bemigisha has about 30 years professional carrier, highlighted by high level awards, initiatives and memberships at national, regional and international levels as follows: At national level, Dr. Bemigisha is a Uganda Golden Jubilee Independence Medalist awarded at Women’s day celebrations of March 8th 2019. The medal is specially awarded by H.E The President of the Republic of Uganda to personalities who have excelled in their professions and have
greatly contributed to the economic development of the country and or livelihoods of the communities they serve. This places Dr. Bemigisha amongst distinguished women of Uganda to receive the medal. She was awarded the medal on account of her contribution to environmental conservation, planning and documentation including the use of location-based databases and geo–spatial mapping technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote
sensing using satellite imagery and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones.

Dr. Bemigisha is at ESIPPS working to integrate remote sensing by satellite and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAS) or drones for environmental conservation and agriculture, particularly supporting setting up of crop and pasture spatial or location-based farm databases and monitoring vegetation in wildlife protected areas. ESIPPS is leading the setting up of farm registration and drone mapping in a new SPATIAL FARMS system initiated mainly through capacity development for agro-associations and businesses. For example, capacity at NUCAFE and Igara Tea Growers Factory (IGTF) has been built to set up location-based databases for traceability, internal management and for building credibility of farmers to access credit, insurance, inputs and other services.

ESIPPS is further together with a Ugandan space company and National Council for Science and Technology championing the establishment of a Space Program for Uganda. ESIPPS mainly focuses on Earth Observation and Telecommunications space segments. The contribution to Earth Observation includes services in satellite remote sensing and drones for research, surveys and mapping of resources for sustainable development. ESIPPS spearheads an initiative to set up a spatial information resource center /library in partnership with Makerere University
Department of Geography and Climatic Sciences; the College of Computing and Information Science; and National Council for Science and Technology.

Dr. Bemigisha is a Uganda National focal point for Regional African Satellite Communications Organization (RASCOM). RASCOM has a mission: to design, implement, operate and maintain the space segment of the African telecommunications satellite system and translate into services and tools for African integration, all the opportunities provided by satellites by linking it, where necessary, with any other appropriate technology. RASCOM works to ensure the sustainable development of
telecommunications in the continent and in each African country, with special emphasis on service
to rural areas. Collaboration with Uganda Telecom Limited is underway in this effect. While working at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Jane helped set up the first National Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory to support environmental decision making in Uganda and continues with her Company ESIPPS to support NEMA on environmental assessments, data and reporting through development of National State of
Environment Reports (NSOERS). ESIPPS has also supported the Ministry of Energy and Mineral development to carry out the first ever strategic Environment Assessment of Oil and Gas in the Abertine Graben; and supported Ministry of Water and Environment to develop a state of Lake Victoria basin report, generating information and an atlas for planning and decision making. Till 2016, Jane lectured (part time) in land use and land evaluation. She still conducts external examination for Masters and Doctorate students applying GIS and remote sensing technologies in their dissertations at Makerere University, Kampala.

At Uganda Wildlife Authority, Jane participated in setting up a general management planning system for wildlife protected areas and she is now initiating a program to map monitor and manage invasive plant species using drones and satellite images. Under a USAID/ Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Uganda Program on Wildlife, Landscapes and Development for Conservation (WILD) for post conflict Northern Uganda, Jane set up an ecological land use planning program integrating the use of Geographic Information Systems and Remote sensing technologies. She implemented two strategic objectives:

•  Improved knowledge of biodiversity and land use: management of surveys, research and
  GIS facilities at WCS and Gulu University; and
• Ecologically responsible natural resource management and economic livelihood options
  promoted: developing and managing tools and building capacity by training in land use
  planning and financing implementation of model environment action plans by District Local
  Government officials.

At regional level, Dr. Bemigisha is a member of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council Congress (ASRIC). The objective of ASRIC is to promote scientific research and innovation in order to address the challenges of Africa s social-economic development. Jane has served as team member on High Level panels and assessments under the Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) & Africa program of the African Union
Commission.

Dr. Bemigisha has served as manager Africa Hub of International Foundation for Science supporting scientists in research by managing grants and training in the area of water and biological resources. Until October 2016, Jane was a Coordinator, Africa Chapter of International Association of Landscape Ecologists (IALE).

Jane is a member, Board of Directors, Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS). ARCOS is a regional conservation organization founded in 1995 with the mission to enhance biodiversityconservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the Albertine Rift region, Africa Great Lakes region and African Mountains through the promotion of collaborative conservation actions for nature and people.

Jane has developed a State of Environment Report and strategies on establishing environmental information center and institutional framework for the Federal Republic of Somalia. She has also worked in Kenya, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo on climate resilience and conservation projects.

At International level, Jane has served as vice Co-chair, 2016 – 2019 of the UN Environment Sixth Global Environment Outlook and member since 2014 of UNEP Community of Practice responsible for global environmental assessments and preparation of Environment Outlooks. She has been Contributor, Group on Earth Observation- Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO-BON) handling ecosystems change; served on task team ID-01 Advancing GEO System of Systems (GEOSS) Data Sharing Principles on user engagement plan and Climate Information for Adaptation. Jane participates in AFRIGEOSS – an initiative aiming to strengthen the link between the current GEO
activities with existing capabilities and initiatives in Africa promoting Earth Observation-based initiatives across Africa

Hypersectral Remote Sensing and Geospatial expert focusing on UAV technology

Amos is a versatile development sociologist with over 10 years of hands-on experience in community development. He is currently an independent social researcher and consultant. He holds a Masters degree in Development Studies (social policy, poverty and gender studies) from ISS-Erasmus University Rotterdam, a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute (UMI), and an undergraduate degree in Development Studies from Makerere University.

He has pragmatically engaged in community development programs that involve: mainstreaming of gender, environment and HIV/AIDS in strategic planning and management.

Brian is a certified OHSAS 18001 / NEBOSH practitioner with accumulated experience from various projects in Uganda and United Kingdom. He is also registered with NEMA Uganda as a Practitioner. He holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources – Sustainable Environmental Management of the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich; and a BSc. Conservation Biology of Makerere University. Other qualifications include among others NEBOSH General International Certificate in Health and Safety, GIS and remote sensing, Project monitoring and evaluation.
.
He has worked as a consultant with different consultant firms and government agencies in Uganda and United Kingdom on projects ranging from roads and bridges, mining, construction, agriculture and industry.

Mr. John Ayongyera Begumana is a seasoned environmental management professional with years of experience in high level management both in the public and private sectors.

He has had specialized training in the climate business area and has published several volumes.
He is a member of several professional bodies including Uganda preparedness for REDD working group and was part of Uganda’s delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, December 2007.

From 2012 he has been working as a consultant in Remote sensing and GIS, Climate change, Renewable Energy (especially biomass), and Forestry Carbon projects.
Some of the major undertakings are: Team leader developing a biomass energy strategy for Uganda for MEMD with support

Social Economist Consultant
Education 
2010-2011 : Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Uganda Management Institute
1996-1998 : International Institute of Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, (ITC), The Netherlands. M.Sc. Socio-Economic Information for Natural Resource Management. Thesis: ‘Farm Forestry and Livelihoods in East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania’
1987-1990 : Makerere University B.A (Social Work and Social Admin)

As an experienced Environment Health and Public Health Nutrition specialist, Mr. Albert Asiimwe Mwebaze has studied, developed, implemented and advised on policies, programs, projects and plans for Health, Eco-health, Conservation, Population Health and Environment (PHE) programs, Environment toxicology, Environmental conservation and Quality management issues.

He has extensive knowledge in the mainstreaming of Health, Eco-health & Conservation, Population Health and Environment(PHE) programs, Environment toxicology, “One Health” promotion and Quality management issues into private sector, central and local government levels as well as lead on advocacy, advice and evaluation of lessons learned for incorporation into government policy and programs development. He is also able to identify, design and implement Health, Eco-health, Conservation, Population Health and Environment (PHE) programs, Environment toxicology and Quality management

Pauline Namutebi is a versatile environmental engineer and climate change specialist, holding an MSc. in Environmental Engineering and Project Management from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Geo-Science and Production from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. With a rich academic background and a passion for sustainability, Pauline has honed a diverse skill set that encompasse various facets of environmental management and sustainable development.

Pauline’s expertise spans across critical areas such as carbon emissions assessments, life cycle assessments, circular economy practices, risk assessment and project management. She has demonstrated her proficiency in these domains through her academic achievements and professional endeavours internationally and on the local scale.