Honorary Conservation Awards
Mwezi 'Badru' Mugerwa Awarded The Indianapolis Prize
Debra John — March 4, 2025
The Indianapolis Prize has named Mwezi "Badru" Mugerwa as the recipient of the 2025 Emerging Conservationist Award, which recognizes individuals under 40 for significant contributions to species conservation.
Mugerwa, a Ugandan conservationist and researcher, is the founder and director of Embaka, a community-based organization focused on the African golden cat. He launched the first community-led anti-poaching initiative for the species in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda, and established the African Golden Cat Conservation Alliance (AGCCA), a network supporting conservation efforts across the species’ range.
Mugerwa serves as president of the Society for Conservation Biology’s Africa Region and president-elect for its global division. He and AGCCA researchers across 19 African countries use artificial intelligence to analyze camera trap data, contributing to a standardized approach for studying African golden cat populations.
