Ugandan wildlife veterinarian Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka has been named among the Top 5 CNN Heroes of 2026, earning international recognition for her work protecting endangered mountain gorillas while improving the health and livelihoods of communities living alongside them.
CNN announced the five finalists on Wednesday, October 28, ahead of its 20th annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, where the public will vote to determine the Hero of the Year.
Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, founded Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), a non-profit organisation that links wildlife conservation with community health and sustainable livelihoods.
Through CTPH, her team has reached more than 10,000 households in communities around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where mountain gorillas share habitats with people whose livelihoods often depend on the surrounding natural environment.
In a statement posted on X, Kalema-Zikusoka said she was thrilled to be selected from thousands of nominations worldwide.
“When I became Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, I never imagined that caring for mountain gorillas would lead to a movement linking public health, conservation and sustainable livelihoods,” she wrote.
She added that the organisation’s work had helped the mountain gorilla population in the area grow by more than 50 per cent.
“Our work with over 10,000 households has helped the Bwindi gorilla population grow by over 50%. This recognition shines a light on Uganda and on the One Health approach for the whole world,” she said.
The One Health approach recognises the links between human health, animal health and the environment. In communities bordering protected areas, the approach can help reduce disease transmission between people and wildlife while addressing the economic pressures that can contribute to habitat destruction.
CTPH’s work includes community health education, hygiene promotion and initiatives to provide households with sustainable sources of income. The organisation has also supported Gorilla Conservation Coffee, which works with farmers to improve the returns they receive from coffee production while contributing to conservation efforts.
Kalema-Zikusoka’s selection places Uganda among the countries represented in this year’s five-person shortlist. The other finalists are Dion Dawson of Chicago, Andrew Lunetta of Syracuse, Jaina Spagis of San Bernardino and Kiko Trujillo of Nogales, Mexico.
According to CNN, each of the five finalists will receive $10,000 to support their work, while the candidate selected as Hero of the Year will receive an additional $100,000.
Public voting opened on October 28 and will close on November 29, 2026. Supporters can cast up to 10 votes daily through CNN’s Heroes platform.
Kalema-Zikusoka has appealed to the public to support her candidacy, saying the recognition offers an opportunity to highlight Uganda’s conservation efforts and demonstrate that communities and wildlife can coexist.
The CNN Heroes of the Year will be announced during the 20th annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute on December 5, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Voting link: Vote for Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka