Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has launched the Mountain Gorilla Festival 2026 at Sheraton Hotel Kampala under the theme “Protecting Gorillas, Empowering Communities” and tagline “Run, Explore, Conserve.”
UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi emphasised the need to ensure that communities around Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks benefit from conservation through employment, tourism enterprises, cultural experiences and improved infrastructure.
He also revealed that Uganda’s latest mountain gorilla census results are being finalised and will be announced soon. Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
The festival will feature community exhibitions, a conference and sporting activities, including the Virunga Gorilla Marathon on 21 November 2026, bringing together communities and tourism stakeholders to celebrate conservation and Uganda’s natural heritage.
Protecting gorillas starts with empowering the communities that live alongside them.
