Chief Oscar Unencan Chobidongo is the traditional leader of Wagungu Chiefdom on the banks of Lake Albert along the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. He is recognised for his firm commitment to human rights, environmental protection and the defence of vulnerable communities. His leadership has strengthened conservation efforts in one of the most ecologically important lake and wetland systems in the Albertine Rift.
Chief Oscar has played a central role in the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered chimpanzees which were returned to protected areas through the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation. He has championed the protection of wetlands and critical habitats for the grey crowned crane, a species listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Through community regulations adopted within the chiefdom, he has prohibited the harvesting of crane eggs and halted destructive practices such as burning and clearing of nesting and mating grounds. His mobilising power has inspired the people of Wagungu to protect forests, riverbanks and mountain slopes by regenerating native trees and restoring degraded sites. He has used radio and community gatherings to raise awareness on conservation, climate change and the responsibilities of local communities as stewards of natural resources.
Chief Oscar is also a defender of press freedom. He has protected journalists who face threats for reporting environmental abuses and has supported community media organisations subjected to retaliation by powerful actors. He stands with landless families who suffer injustice and land rights violations and uses customary leadership to defend their dignity and secure their rights. His work places young women and girls at the centre of climate solutions. He promotes feminist approaches to climate justice and ensures that women participate in decision making processes related to land rights, adaptation and environmental protection. He also advances the safety and wellbeing of women environmental and human rights defenders.
Chief Oscar Unencan Chobidongo embodies the vital role of traditional authority in confronting climate change, safeguarding biodiversity and defending the rights of communities who depend on the land for their survival.
