Uganda: Change a Life Bwindi Puts Communities At the Heart of World Gorilla Day

What the report says

World Gorilla Day in Uganda was marked with a community-focused event in Mpungu Sub-County, Kanungu District, near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with activities led by Change a Life-Bwindi, a local organization based in Ruhija. According to The Independent (Kampala), residents took part in tree planting, cleaning, dialogue sessions, sports, and a free medical camp, while more than 120 people received medical services from Rugarama Hospital.

The article says the celebration highlighted a conservation model that links wildlife protection with local livelihoods. Communities around Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks benefit from tourism-linked jobs and businesses, and organizers argued that protecting gorillas also helps support income for porters, guides, lodge workers, farmers, drivers, and small suppliers. Christine Katushabe, founder of Change a Life-Bwindi, pointed to growth in tourism facilities around the park and to efforts to include Batwa communities alongside neighboring Bakiga populations.

The report also cites Uganda Wildlife Authority figures showing rising visitor numbers at both parks in recent years, along with substantial tourism revenue from gorilla-related activities. John Makombo of the authority said the parks generated hundreds of billions of shillings across recent financial years, while Juliana Kagwa of the Uganda Tourism Board called for sustainable tourism as the country seeks to widen its appeal. The broader significance, as presented in the article, is that gorilla conservation in southwestern Uganda is increasingly tied to both environmental protection and community development.