Makerere University Biological Field Station is located in Kibale National Park in Fort portal. It is mainly involved in research but it is increasingly hosting short international courses in Tropical
Biology. Originally, most of the research at MUBFS was primatology but over the years, the research agenda has broadened to include ecological and behavioral research on taxes, and socio economic studies. There is adequate dormitory and guest house space for groups ranging between 10 and 60.
The original name of the field station was Kibale Forest Project funded by the New York Zoological Society (currently known as Wildlife Conservation Society). The field site was established in 1970 by Dr. Thomas Struhsaker at Kanyawara near the Forest Department Field Station. He came to Uganda to study the behavioral ecology of the Uganda red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus) an endangered species. With eleven species of sympatric primate species, Dr. Struhsaker soon realized that Kibale offered a great opportunity for comparative studies on the behavioral ecology of the various primate species in the area.
The diversity of primate species attracted more researchers and this made Kibale an internationally important site for primatological research. As time went on, research expanded to include studies on rodents, insects and forest gap dynamics, crop raiding and the interactions between the park and the human communities surrounding the park.
The field station offers a myriad of research opportunities associated with the many natural and human modified habitats in and around Kibale. Established in 1970, the field station has become
one of Africa’s premier field station that permits researcher access to a variety of ecosystems, including forest, grasslands, regenerating forest after logging, agriculture, or plantation use, rivers,
lakes, and papyrus swamps. This park illustrates the future of many forests of Africa, Asia, and South-Central America. It is an isolated forest island surrounded by humanized landscapes that
range from small landholder agricultural plots to tea estates. As a result, this park acts as a window through which researcher students can easily study the conflict between wildlife and human
demands.
Examples of Current Projects and / or Long-term (L) Projects being carried out by the field station
1. Chimpanzee Behavior and Ecology(L)
2. Primate Conservation (L)
3. Primate Behavior (L)
4. Primate Nutritional Ecology
5. Primate Locomotion
6. Parasitology
7. Forest Restoration(L)
8. Forest Phenology(L)
9. Forest Demography and Dynamics(L)
10. Seed and Seedling Physiology and Ecology(L)
11. Seed Dispersal(L)
12. Elephant Ecology
13. Crop Raiding
14. Forest Fragment Studies(L)
15. Limnology and Ecology of Crater Lakes(L)
16. Wetland Ecology (Papyrus Swamps) (L)
17. Insect, Behaviour, Ecology, and Physiology
18. Fish Behaviour, Physiology, Ecology, and Evolution(L)
19. Avian Behavior, Physiology, and Ecology
20. Butterfly Ecology and Evolution
21. Evaluation of Integrated Conservation and Development Projects
22. Park – People Interactions