Uganda joined the world to commemorate the 2024 World Gorilla Day celebrations on 22nd September 2024.
The colourful function that was held at Bwindi nursing school playground in Buhoma town council, Kanungu district was celebrated under the theme, “Take action to conserve the Gorillas.”
It involved Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) staff, the community members around the national park, and various stakeholders in the field of conservation.
These annual celebrations are aimed at educating the world about gorillas and their conservation.
Besides tourism, Gorillas play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity of their forest homes by spreading the seeds of the trees they eat and by opening up gaps in the trees as they move around, letting in light and helping sun-loving plants grow.
In Uganda, Gorillas are only found in the Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national Parks.
According to the Chief Warden of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA) Guma Nelson, concerted efforts are needed to conserve the Gorillas which he says their tourism contribute hugely to Uganda’s growth domestic product (GDP).
During his maiden speech on the day of Gorillas, Afande Guma urged the communities to support gorilla conservation efforts to enhance the current revenues that the government generates from tourism.
He noted that once government’s earnings are enhanced, the percentage share that the government remits as the revenue share to communities neighbouring parks can be enhanced as well, hence catalysing community development.
He also noted that besides community benefits, Gorilla tourism also generates revenues that fund 60% of Uganda WildLife Authority operations.
He appreciated the community and conservation partners that have contributed to the population growth of Gorillas in the Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable Gorilla National parks.
Gorillas were about to go extinct a decade ago but due to conservation efforts, their Population has rapidly increased especially in Bwindi. Today, there are 1,063 Gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC, a remarkable success worth celebration.
According to him, 459 individual Gorillas were counted to be in Bwindi and the number has increased by 113 babies as of the 2018-19 censuses. He noted that a new census will be conducted this year.
Conservation stakeholders including the International Gorilla Conservation programme (IGCP), The Gorilla Organisation and the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Trust commended UWA and the government of Uganda for the stride taken in conserving Gorillas.
They also hailed their partnerships with UWA, pledging to continue working together.
Meanwhile, Local government leaders in the Kisoro, Kanungu and Rubanda districts where these Gorillas are conserved called on the government to improve on the already existing community incentives if the importance of tourism and Gorilla Conservation must be easily explained to the local persons.
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