Ngamba Island’s Lilly Ajarova Named New UTB Chief Executive

The founder of the Ngamba Island Conservation Trust, Lilly Ajarova has been announced as the new Executive Director of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).

Ajarova was announced on Thursday by the Minister of State for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi at an event held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kampala.

Ajarova had been vying for the position of UTB chief executive together with the former UWA boss, Andrew Sseguya and Ochieng Bradford Robbster.

The Minister also unveiled Ochieng Robbster as the Deputy chief executive succeeding John Ssempebwa.

The appointment of the two follows a nearly year-long restructuring process at the agency which saw majority of the positions readvertised. The outgoing CEO, Stephen Asiimwe did not reapply for the position.

Lilly Ajarova is the Executive Director Chimpanzee Trust, a global Conservation initiative that manages Ngamba Island, an African model Chimpanzee Sanctuary situated on Lake Victoria in Uganda.

She has also served as a member on the Advisory Committee of Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) and developed the policies, standard operating procedures and best practices for the 22 sanctuaries and wildlife centres in 13 African member countries of PASA.

Ajarova was also committee Chairperson on the Uganda Tourism Board and directed the development and implementation of quality assurance, grading and classification of hotels in Uganda. She contributed to the development of tourism policies of Uganda and East Africa.

At Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) she served as the Tourism Product Development and Marketing Manager. There, she spearheaded the development of tourism products in the national parks of Uganda.

She is a recipient of the prestigious National Golden Jubilee Award, Tourism Excellence Award and Wildlife Conservation Award.

Uganda Tourism Board is the government agency responsibile for marketing Uganda locally and internationally.