Irene K. Natukunda is a passionate Ugandan conservation biologist with over five years of experience in biodiversity conservation advocacy and applied conservation.
Irene is a member and of the African Golden Cat conservation Alliance and Working Group(AGCCA & WG) a non-governmental network of 46 dedicated and passionate African nationals spearheading the conservation of the AGC together with local communities in their countries
She also serves as the Africa Regional Co-Coordinator for the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN-Africa), a global movement of young people dedicated to halting biodiversity loss across the continent and beyond.

Deeply committed to wildlife conservation in Uganda, Irene focuses her work on protecting the endangered African Golden Cat(Caracal aurata) through a community-based organization called Embaka. Recognizing that bushmeat poaching remains one of the greatest threats to the long-term survival of the African Golden Cat and other wildlife species, she leads a grassroots, community-driven conservation and livelihood improvement program that supports over 300 local families living adjacent to protected areas in Uganda.

Through Embaka, Irene has developed locally practical and community-led conservation initiatives that directly address the root socioeconomic causes of poaching particularly the need for food security and sustainable household income.

Her work combines conservation action with community empowerment to create long-term, sustainable solutions for both people and wildlife.