The Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Dr. James Musinguzi, has officially launched the 2025 Bwindi-Sarambwe Mountain Gorilla and inaugural Chimpanzee Census at the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC) in Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
During the event, held in the Ruhija sector of Rubanda District on Tuesday, Dr. Musinguzi also flagged off a team of 60 trained personnel who will carry out the census. Of these, 70% are from UWA.
The team will employ nest count and genetic analysis methods across two census sweeps the first set to conclude in June and the second in September.
Dr. Musinguzi expressed UWA’s full commitment to supporting the field teams, ensuring the success of this critical exercise.
He emphasized that the census will help determine the current populations of mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the region, identify threats to their survival, and inform conservation strategies to protect these endangered great apes.
The launch was attended by key partners including the Rwanda Development Board, Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, the Jane Goodall Institute, Dr. Jane Goodall herself, WWF Uganda Country Office, Gorilla Doctors, and other conservation organizations.
Hangi Bashir, UWA’s Head of Communication and Public Relations, shared that more than 103 mountain gorilla births have been recorded in Bwindi since 2019, a positive sign for conservation efforts in the area.
