Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Susan Nsambu Nakawukyi, continued the third leg of her nationwide familiarisation tour this week with a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where she experienced her first-ever mountain gorilla trek.
Accompanied by officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and local community representatives, the Minister tracked the renowned Binyindo Gorilla Family deep in the misty forests of Bwindi. The encounter, which lasted several hours, left a lasting impression on the newly appointed minister as she observed the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
“This was my first time trekking the mountain gorillas, and it is an experience every Ugandan and visitor should have,” the Minister said after the trek. “Standing metres away from these gentle giants reminds us why conservation must remain at the heart of our tourism agenda.”
Beyond the wildlife experience, Hon. Nakawukyi engaged with members of the Batwa community living around the park. The Batwa, traditionally forest dwellers, have long been involved in cultural tourism initiatives that allow them to share their heritage while benefiting from conservation efforts. The Minister toured community projects supported by tourism revenue and listened to residents speak about the positive impact of gorilla tourism on their livelihoods, including improved access to healthcare, education and alternative income sources.
She emphasised that sustainable tourism must go hand in hand with community empowerment. “Tourism only succeeds when the people who live closest to our wildlife also benefit from it,” she noted. “The Batwa and other communities around Bwindi are true partners in conservation, and government remains committed to ensuring they share in the gains.”
The visit forms part of a broader familiarisation tour the Minister is undertaking across Uganda’s key tourism destinations. The exercise is aimed at giving her first-hand understanding of the sector’s opportunities and challenges as she settles into her new role. Earlier stops have included other national parks and tourism sites, with Bwindi marking a significant milestone given its global reputation as a premier mountain gorilla destination.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park remains one of Uganda’s most valuable tourism assets, attracting thousands of international visitors each year for gorilla trekking. The activity generates substantial foreign exchange and supports conservation programmes that protect the remaining mountain gorilla population shared between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Officials from the Uganda Tourism Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority who joined the Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to improve visitor experiences while maintaining strict conservation standards. They also pointed to the growing interest in community-based tourism and cultural encounters as complementary products that can lengthen visitor stays and spread benefits more widely.
As the familiarisation tour continues, Hon. Nakawukyi is expected to visit additional destinations in the coming weeks. Her focus, she said, remains on strengthening Uganda’s position as a leading sustainable tourism destination while ensuring that local communities remain central to the industry’s success.
The Minister’s first gorilla trek has already drawn positive reactions from stakeholders, many of whom see it as a strong signal of renewed commitment to conservation-led tourism development.