KISORO. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched the inaugural Mountain Gorilla Festival, a three-day event that will combine wildlife conservation, tourism, culture and sport in southwestern Uganda.
The festival, scheduled for November 20 to 22, was launched on Sunday at the Home of Kigezi Museum in Kisoro and will include the Virunga Gorilla Marathon on November 21.
The marathon will start at 6am, with participants able to choose from 6km, 10km, 21km, 42km and 112km races.
The festival will be held across Bwindi and Kisoro, with organisers seeking to promote the conservation of mountain gorillas while showcasing the tourism and cultural attractions of the region.
The event is being organised in partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
Marathon opens festival to wider public
Mr Kenneth Kamukama, the chief executive officer of the Virunga Gorilla Marathon, said the festival will bring together a range of activities aimed at promoting mountain gorilla conservation and tourism.
“This festival will put together a series of events and activities all geared towards promoting the mountain gorilla that we have in Bwindi here in Kisoro,” he said.
Mr Kamukama said the marathon will also feature a 6km fun run to enable people who do not regularly participate in long-distance running to take part.
He said the shorter race is intended to make the event accessible to ordinary members of the public rather than limiting participation to experienced runners.
“We invite all runners and the six-kilometre fun run is something that you can do even if you’re not a runner or one that runs every week,” he said.
The organisers and partners include UWA, Uganda Tourism Board, Virunga Gorilla Marathon, Stanbic Bank, Tusker Lite, Pepsi, the European Union, CarbonSafe and Airtel Uganda.
Museum showcases Kigezi heritage
The launch was held at the Home of Kigezi Museum, which organisers say will be among the places visitors can explore during the festival.
Mr Nkusi Gerald, the museum director, said the facility provides visitors with an opportunity to learn about the culture of Kigezi and understand the ecosystem of the Virunga landscape.
“This is a place where people come to experience the culture of Kigezi and then also they can be able to understand the ecosystem within the Virunga,” he said.
Mr Nkusi said people coming for the marathon can also visit the museum to learn about how communities in Kigezi lived in the past, how they live today and efforts being made to restore the ecosystem.
He said the museum provides an opportunity to connect the region’s cultural heritage with its conservation and tourism initiatives.
Beyond gorilla trekking
Mr Kamukama said Kisoro offers visitors a range of attractions beyond the marathon, including gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga and golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga.
He also cited boat cruises on Lake Mutanda aboard the Amazing Grace boat and the Three in Three hiking experience among activities visitors can explore during their stay.
He said organisers are putting together tourism packages that will allow visitors to combine the festival and marathon with different experiences in the region.
The packages are expected to give visitors an opportunity to spend more time in Kisoro and explore its tourism attractions instead of attending the marathon alone.
Promoting conservation through tourism
The festival comes as Uganda continues to promote wildlife tourism as an important part of conservation and local economic development.
Bwindi and Mgahinga are among Uganda’s key destinations for mountain gorilla tourism, attracting visitors who travel to the region to see the endangered primates in their natural habitat.
Organisers say bringing together sport, tourism, culture and conservation will help create greater awareness about the importance of protecting mountain gorillas while generating opportunities for communities and tourism businesses.
The Mountain Gorilla Festival will run from November 20 to 22, with the Virunga Gorilla Marathon scheduled for November 21.