Mugerwa is a Ugandan conservationist and researcher and is the founder and director of Embaka, a grassroots community-based conservation organization focused on the preservation of the African golden cat. He established the first-ever community-based anti-poaching conservation project focused on the African golden cat at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. Mugerwa also created the African Golden Cat Conservation Alliance (AGCCA), a network of African nationals implementing conservation activities for the African golden cat across the species range. Additionally, Mugerwa serves as the president of the Society for Conservation Biology's Africa Region and is the president-elect for the Society for Conservation Biology Global.
"Mwezi's passion for involving the local community in conservation efforts is what makes him so worthy of receiving this award. It is a distinct honor to recognize him as the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist," said Dr. Rob Shumaker, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society.
Mugerwa began studying the African golden cat through research using camera traps, where he captured a black and white image of an unknown animal in the forest. At the time, the African golden cat was virtually unknown—an elusive species found only in the forests of equatorial Africa. Turning to the community, he came to understand how the wild cat's primary threat—poaching—was directly connected to the livelihood of local people, as it is often caught in bushmeat snares.
Since its founding in 2015, Embaka has focused on involving the community in conservation efforts. Through four programs—offering everything from free oral health care and livestock, to helping with credit and savings for families in exchange for a pledge not to poach—more than 2,225 community members have registered to support the African golden cat.
"Having a national park in your backyard is not a burden, it's an opportunity. That's the connection we've been trying to draw for the African golden cat in these communities," said Mugerwa. "Once you're in the communities and you understand the problem: 'I need money to pay my dentist bills.' Well, what if I brought you a dentist? Once you explain that, it connects really well. The communities hold the solutions, but if you don't talk to them, you won't know."
Using artificial intelligence to analyze camera trap data, Mugerwa and others working with the AGCCA in 19 African countries are moving toward a standardized model of observation to better study the population of African golden cats across the continent.
Mugerwa was chosen through a two-stage selection process and was named one of 10 Finalists in October 2024. The Emerging Conservationist award is made possible through a gift from the Kobe Foundation.
In May, the Indianapolis Prize will also announce the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Winner, who will receive a $250,000 award for their work in animal species conservation. The Indianapolis Prize Winner and Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist will be honored at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27, 2025, presented by Cummins Inc., in downtown Indianapolis.
For additional media assets for the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award, click here. To learn more about the previous Indianapolis Prize Winners, visit IndianapolisPrize.org.
About the Indianapolis Prize
The Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. The Emerging Conservationist Award, a newly established accolade in 2023, is given to a conservationist age 40 or younger. Since 2004, the Indianapolis Prize has awarded more than $7 million in unrestricted cash awards, advancing the work of conservation scientists through financial support and public awareness. The Indianapolis Prize is a conservation initiative of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.
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SOURCE Indianapolis Zoo
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