As the world commemorated World Gorilla Day, Viva! Uganda, in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), marked a major milestone in wildlife conservation by fully equipping 160 Human-Gorilla Conflict Resolution Volunteers (HUGOs) under the Gorilla Defenders Project.
The donation, valued at Shs. 80 million, provides essential field gear for all volunteers operating across gorilla range sectors in southwestern Uganda — a region that hosts more than half of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas.
HUGOs, known locally as Gorilla Guardians, are community-based conservation volunteers who form the first line of defense when gorillas stray from protected areas into farmlands and villages bordering Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Their task is delicate and vital. They ensure the great apes are guided safely back into their forest habitats while minimizing human-wildlife conflict and promoting peaceful coexistence between communities and wildlife.
The equipping ceremony took place at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park headquarters in Buhoma, with HUGOs representing all five key gorilla sectors — Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Mgahinga — areas that collectively host more than 23 habituated gorilla families.
Each volunteer received a package of essential field gear including rain jackets, warmth coats, tents, food flasks, water bottles, cameras, printers, and gumboots — all tailored to improve field efficiency and comfort in the often wet and rugged terrain of the Albertine Rift forests.
“This milestone strengthens the frontline of gorilla protection,” said Dash, Head of Campaigns at Viva! Uganda.
“By equipping all 160 HUGOs, we’re empowering the very people who stand between gorillas and conflict, ensuring that conservation remains rooted in local communities,” he added.
The gesture not only boosts morale among volunteers but also reinforces the principle that local participation is central to long-term wildlife protection — an approach that has been credited with reducing poaching and increasing gorilla populations in Uganda over the past two decades.
According to Fahd Kharim Ssevume, Head of Campaigns and Public Relations at Viva! Uganda, the organization’s next focus is the second phase of the Gorilla Defenders Project — equipping the Trackers.
“With the HUGOs now fully equipped, we are moving into the next phase of the Gorilla Defenders Campaign — supporting the Trackers, the dedicated men and women who monitor and protect gorilla families deep within the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga,” Ssevume said.
Together, HUGOs and Trackers form the twin pillars of the Gorilla Defenders strategy.
HUGOs work along community boundaries to prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Trackers, on the other hand, operate inside the forest — following gorilla groups daily, collecting data on movement, behavior, and health, and detecting potential threats such as poaching, snares, or disease outbreaks.
Trackers often work under harsh conditions, trekking long distances through steep, misty terrain. Their work provides critical data used by conservation scientists to assess the wellbeing of Uganda’s gorilla populations — an essential tool in ensuring their continued recovery.
This achievement was made possible through funding and technical support from Viva! UK, whose international fundraising efforts enabled the complete equipping of all HUGOs across the five gorilla sectors.
The partnership underscores the growing role of international collaboration in advancing community-led conservation models that balance biodiversity protection with local livelihoods.
To ensure the sustainability of these efforts, Viva! Uganda has launched an appeal for contributions to the Tracker Equipment Fund, which aims to provide additional field tools such as GPS devices, tents, backpacks, rain gear, boots, and cameras.
“Trackers are the heart of gorilla protection,” said Dash.
“They follow these great apes every day to keep them safe—but their efforts can only continue if they are properly equipped and supported,” he emphasized.
As mountain gorilla populations continue to show signs of recovery — with Uganda now home to nearly half of the global population — conservationists warn that the gains remain fragile, particularly as climate change, habitat encroachment, and human pressure persist in the Albertine Rift.
By equipping both HUGOs and Trackers, Viva! Uganda is building a resilient, community-led conservation network that not only safeguards mountain gorillas but also protects the broader ecosystems they inhabit — ensuring that local communities remain key beneficiaries and stewards of conservation success.
The Bwindi initiative stands as a reminder that protecting wildlife is not just about forests and animals — it is about people, partnerships, and persistence.
