The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched the 2026 Mountain Gorilla Festival, seeking to strengthen wildlife conservation while expanding tourism and economic opportunities for communities living alongside mountain gorillas.
The festival’s media launch was held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala ahead of the November 19–22 event in Kisoro District, under the theme “Protecting Gorillas, Empowering Communities” and the tagline “Run. Explore. Conserve.”
UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said the festival would bring together conservation, tourism, sport and community development to promote Uganda as a leading gorilla tourism destination.
He said protecting mountain gorillas also meant safeguarding ecosystems, supporting local livelihoods and preserving the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
Musinguzi noted that communities living near Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks needed to benefit meaningfully from conservation through tourism-related businesses, including hospitality, tour guiding and cultural experiences.
He identified habitat encroachment, human-wildlife conflict and disease as some of the threats requiring continued vigilance and cooperation among conservation agencies, local communities and tourism operators.
The UWA chief also called for greater participation by young people, women and local entrepreneurs in tourism, saying stronger community involvement could improve conservation outcomes.
He revealed that UWA was considering partnerships with private investors to establish quality but affordable accommodation near national parks and improve transport options to make domestic tourism more accessible to Ugandan families.
The festival will feature conservation awareness activities, cultural experiences, sporting events and exhibitions promoting locally produced goods, including coffee grown in the highlands around Bwindi.
Organisers also plan to launch the Gorilla Family application and introduce Gorilla Guardian, alongside gorilla-themed merchandise aimed at promoting Uganda’s conservation identity and tourism attractions.
Commissioner for Tourism and Business Development Dorcus Rukundo Twesigomwe said the festival would celebrate Uganda’s conservation achievements and demonstrate how mountain gorilla tourism contributes to community livelihoods.
She said organisers intended to make the festival an annual event rotating across the Kigezi region, with Kisoro hosting the inaugural edition, Kabale expected to host the next edition and Kanungu or Kihihi considered for subsequent events.
Singer Ykee Benda, who recently visited the region as part of a tourism promotion initiative, described his encounter with a silverback gorilla in Mgahinga as a remarkable experience. He encouraged Ugandans to explore the country’s natural attractions, including Kisoro’s mountainous landscapes and Lake Bunyonyi.
Twesigomwe urged journalists to report beyond the festival activities and highlight the experiences of gorillas, conservationists, local communities and young people whose livelihoods are linked to wildlife.
She said the festival’s long-term success would depend on the awareness generated, partnerships established and lasting conservation benefits achieved.
The event is expected to attract local and international visitors, offering an opportunity to promote mountain gorilla conservation while supporting tourism growth and economic activity across the Kigezi region.