Alarm in Uganda: Gorilla Tourism Threatened by Proposed Stricter Tracking Rules

A recent assessment of responsible gorilla tourism has identified significant gaps in the enforcement of visitor rules, staff training, tourism marketing, and coordination among conservation stakeholders in Uganda and Rwanda. Presented by the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) at a validation meeting in Kampala, the assessment, based on research conducted between December 2025 and February 2026, raises serious concerns about the long-term protection of mountain gorillas in these regions. The study involved 250 respondents, including tourists, tour operators, conservation organizations, park managers, and local communities.

Despite a high uptake of the Gorilla Friendly Pledge (95.2% of respondents) and related training participation (73.6%), a substantial 46.6-percentage-point gap was found between training participation and actual communication of the pledge to tourists, with only 33.2% sharing the information. This indicates that awareness of responsible gorilla tourism is not consistently translating into practice, potentially undermining efforts to protect gorillas while sustaining vital tourism revenues. The assessment aimed to evaluate the campaign's impact, identify implementation obstacles, determine its contribution to responsible tourism, and find improved methods for collecting visitor feedback.

Key concerns highlighted in the report include observed changes in gorilla health and behavior, such as altered body condition, increased stress levels, modified dietary preferences, and expanded movement into farmland. The assessment also pointed to limited enforcement of visitation rules, unregulated tipping, inappropriate visitor behavior, and even attempts to influence gorilla movements for tourist convenience. Furthermore, some tour operators and hotels were found to be using inappropriate photographs and videos on social media, showing visitors getting too close to gorillas or failing to observe safety precautions. The report also warns that reflective glass windows and attractive food plants around lodges can draw gorillas closer to human settlements, creating additional risks due to their high vulnerability to human-borne diseases.

Wellard Makambo Molatu, executive director of IGCP, emphasized that the Gorilla Friendly Pledge initiative, originally launched in 2014 and relaunched in 2020, was designed to ensure that the economic benefits of gorilla tourism do not compromise conservation efforts. The pledge encourages tourists to commit to following gorilla tourism rules and sharing experiences, drawing upon existing great ape visitation regulations and IUCN best-practice guidelines. IGCP, a coalition involving Fauna & Flora, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and Conservation International, collaborates with protected-area authorities in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Charles Tumwesigye, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) commissioner for field operations, welcomed the assessment and expressed UWA's readiness to implement its recommendations. He acknowledged the program's resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the importance of adoption by partners, including tour operators, to ensure responsible tourism for future generations. Henry Mutabazi, IGCP country director for Uganda, reiterated the organization's commitment to promoting responsible gorilla tourism through the pledge and online awareness campaigns.

The assessment proposes several key reforms. For UWA, recommendations include strengthening enforcement of visitation rules, educating tour operators on best practices, promoting responsible tourism information on commercial platforms, and reviewing revenue-sharing policies. It also calls for a science-based assessment of tourism carrying capacity, measures to prevent interference with gorilla movements, and independent email channels linked to the pledge website for real-time tourist feedback. Private-sector recommendations involve integrating the pledge into pre-tour briefings, improving guide training, proper waste disposal, ensuring visitor protective measures, and using responsible marketing materials. Hotels and lodges are urged to comply with National Environment Management Authority requirements, including obtaining environmental and social impact assessment certificates by December 2026. IGCP is advised to enhance the pledge website, promote a QR code for access, strengthen engagement with tourism operators and park managers, and organize regional meetings to harmonize conservation messages.

The stakes for conservation are high. Mountain gorillas are found naturally in only two ecosystems: Bwindi-Sarambwe (Uganda and DRC) and the Virunga Massif (Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC). Historical population benchmarks include 459 gorillas in Bwindi-Sarambwe (2018 census) and 604 in the Virunga Massif (2015-2016 census), totaling 1,063 mountain gorillas. These figures highlight significant conservation achievements, though ongoing censuses, like Uganda's in 2025, are expected to provide updated data.

Gorilla protection is also a critical tourism development priority. Uganda Wildlife Authority figures reported in September 2026 show that Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks generated Shs398.8 billion from gorilla tourism between FY2022/23 and FY2025/26, contributing significantly to combined park revenues. UWA also disbursed Shs2.97 billion to communities around the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area in FY2024/25, illustrating how gorilla tourism supports conservation financing, employment, accommodation, transport, and local markets. Rwanda and DRC similarly leverage gorilla trekking for international tourism, despite operational challenges like insecurity in Virunga National Park.

Protecting mountain gorillas offers Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC a shared regional economic asset. As gorillas move across borders and threats like disease and human-wildlife conflict impact the entire region, strong coordination is essential. Common tourism standards, well-trained guides, consistent visitor rules, and responsible marketing can safeguard the quality of the gorilla-tracking experience and minimize risks to the animals. Healthy gorilla populations are the foundation of this specialized tourism market; damaging their health or behavior would undermine its long-term viability. Conversely, well-managed tourism generates income for park authorities and communities, fostering incentives for forest preservation and conservation. Ultimately, responsible gorilla tracking is not merely a visitor code but a comprehensive strategy to sustain biodiversity, protect community livelihoods, and preserve a tourism attraction whose enduring value hinges on the survival of the gorillas themselves.