KISORO, UGANDA: The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), in partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), has engaged a team of Ugandan celebrities and social media influencers in a campaign aimed at promoting mountain gorilla conservation, tourism and the upcoming Mountain Gorilla Festival 2026 in Kisoro District.
The campaign is using the reach of celebrities and digital content creators to create awareness about Uganda’s mountain gorillas and encourage both domestic and international visitors to explore the tourism attractions and activities lined up for the festival.
Among the personalities taking part in the campaign are musicians Ykee Benda, whose real name is Wycliffe Tugume, Allan Sseky, John Laban, Miss Tourism Queen South West Kembabazi, Zyra Baby, Shawa, Dr Solomon and Christine Nampera, among other influencers.
The influencers were flagged off from the UTB offices in Kampala on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, as they travelled to Kisoro District for a series of tourism and conservation activities.
The team made an overnight stop at Lake Bunyonyi before proceeding to Rubanda District on Thursday, where they participated in activities marking World Gorilla Day in Ruhija.
During the World Gorilla Day activities, the influencers also participated in an activation for the Virunga Gorilla Marathon, one of the major activities being promoted ahead of the Mountain Gorilla Festival.
The following day, the celebrities and influencers visited the Rushaga sector and Rubugiri area in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where they took part in a gorilla trekking experience.
The experience gave the influencers an opportunity to interact with Uganda’s mountain gorilla tourism firsthand while generating digital content for their audiences.
Over the weekend, the team is expected to visit Lake Mutanda in Kisoro, where they will participate in activities including a boat cruise and zip-lining before returning to Kampala.
The influencers had previously participated in the Open Park Days campaign, through which their digital platforms were used to promote Uganda’s protected areas and tourism attractions.
The latest campaign has shifted focus towards mountain gorilla conservation and activities planned under the Mountain Gorilla Festival, scheduled for November 20 to 22, 2026, in Kisoro District.
The festival is expected to bring together conservationists, tourists, local communities, businesses, cultural performers and other stakeholders for three days of activities centred on mountain gorilla conservation and tourism.
The programme will include gorilla trekking, hiking in the Virunga ranges, boat rides and zip-lining on Lake Mutanda, cultural performances, conservation activities, community and business exhibitions, food and coffee experiences, as well as the Virunga Gorilla Marathon.
The festival will also feature a Tusker Lite after-party, adding an entertainment component to the conservation and tourism programme.
The involvement of celebrities and influencers is intended to increase the visibility of the festival and encourage more people to travel to Kisoro and the wider Kigezi region.
Speaking during the campaign, Ykee Benda acknowledged the conservation efforts being undertaken by UWA in partnership with local communities.
Ykee Benda said conservation requires the combined efforts of different stakeholders and called on government agencies, communities, businesses, conservation organisations and tourism players to support the upcoming Mountain Gorilla Festival.
He said the campaign provides an opportunity for celebrities and influencers to use their platforms to promote conservation while showcasing the tourism and economic opportunities available in the region.
The campaign has also received support from conservation stakeholders operating in the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area.
Kanyamunyu Fidelis, a conservationist in the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area and Chairperson of the Bwindi Community Tour Operators and Hotel Owners Association (BCTOHA), commended the influencers for using their platforms to promote conservation.
BCTOHA is a community-led association that brings together local tour operators and hotel owners operating across the Buhoma, Ruhija and Nkuringo sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Kanyamunyu also appreciated UWA and UTB for their continued collaboration with BCTOHA and other local tourism stakeholders in promoting conservation and tourism in the region.
He said partnerships between government institutions, conservation organisations and local communities remain important in protecting the area’s natural resources while creating opportunities for people involved in tourism.
Meanwhile, Henry Mutabazi, the Country Coordinator of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), said mountain gorilla conservation requires cooperation across national borders.
Speaking during the World Gorilla Day celebrations in Ruhija on Thursday, Mutabazi noted that Uganda shares the mountain gorilla population with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said mountain gorillas do not recognise political boundaries between the three countries, making regional collaboration important in their protection and conservation.
Mutabazi said IGCP, together with other conservation partners, has worked with UWA and other stakeholders to support gorilla conservation.
He said the mountain gorilla population has increased from about 300 in 1991 to more than 500, according to figures cited during the event.
He called for continued cooperation among Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC, as well as conservation agencies, local communities and tourism stakeholders, to protect the mountain gorilla population.
Meanwhile, Kisoro District LCV Chairperson Richard Ndyana acknowledged the contribution of conservation partners towards protecting and promoting the environment and wildlife in the district.
Ndyana said conservation requires the combined support of government, local communities, tourism stakeholders and conservation organisations because protecting natural resources cannot be the responsibility of one institution or group.
He appreciated conservation partners for their continued involvement in activities aimed at protecting wildlife, forests and other natural resources, noting that such efforts also contribute to the development of the local tourism industry.
Ndyana said Kisoro is endowed with important natural resources, including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which attracts tourists from Uganda and different parts of the world.
He said protecting these resources is important not only for biodiversity conservation but also for the livelihoods of communities that benefit from tourism-related activities.
The district chairperson called on local communities to actively participate in conservation by protecting wildlife habitats, avoiding activities that degrade the environment and supporting initiatives aimed at preserving the area’s natural heritage.
He also encouraged conservation partners to continue working closely with district authorities and communities to address challenges affecting conservation and ensure that local people benefit from tourism and conservation programmes.
The Mountain Gorilla Festival, scheduled for November 20 to 22, is expected to provide a platform for promoting conservation, tourism, culture, sport and business in Kisoro.
Through the influencer campaign, UWA and UTB are seeking to amplify awareness about mountain gorillas while showcasing the tourism, cultural and business opportunities available to communities around Uganda’s protected areas.
