On 23rd January 2022, the adult female Twijukye of the Mukiza family in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park delivered a baby gorillas. This is great joy as the conservation efforts are yielding returns.

Mukiza gorilla family is among the fully habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park visited by tourists who go on gorilla safari treks in the Ruhija sector southeast of the park.

The Mukiza family separated from Kyaguliro under the lead of Mukiza, a young silver and was fully habituated and opened for trekking in 2022. The Kyaguliro family was under the leadership of the dominant silverback Rukina who dedicated most of his time to females and infants in the family, at 29years Rukina died in 2016.

Mukiza tookover command of Kyaguliro family but the former member Rukara who had transferred to Butikura returned into the family finding the godfather dead, Rukara took over dominance of the Kyaguliro family which prompted Mukiza to break off. Today Rukira is still the dominating silverback of Kyaguliro family.

Mukiza family is experience a small number of members in the family. However, the birth of baby gorillas stature the family at the helm of increase in number. Where the family in as well in 2020 received another new born to the same mother Twijukye.

So, the birth of the new gorilla at Mukisa family sums up the number to 6 members now. According to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) the baby delivered was in good and health condition.

How to Access Ruhija sector

Opting to particularly trek the Mukiza habituated gorilla family, then automatically must be at Ruhija which is located East of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The sector can easily be sited and accessed from either Buhoma sector northern of Bwindi forests or from Kabale town.

It’s a phenomenal scenery trials whose view prevails to the Virunga conservation area. The sector is another way where ancestral trace continues, finding these human like creature whom science claim to be the real brothers and sisters the gorillas who almost share 98% of human DNA.

The sector accommodates four of the habituated gorilla families among which include Oruzogo, Kyaguliro, Mukiza and Butikura. Kyaguliro was preserved aside for research purpose meaning three gorilla families of Mukiza family, Butikura family and Oruzogo are the families available for trekking.

Beside gorilla trekking at Ruhija sector there are a number of other activities which can be done at the sector among which include primate walks watching the black and white colobus monkeys, and bird watching is very perfect here where one can find some of the species which can’t encountered anywhere.

Other gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and their gorilla families include;

• Buhoma sector; this is the pioneer of gorilla trekking in Uganda, the sector is located in the northern of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Mubare Gorilla Family, Habinyanja Gorilla family, Rushegura Gorilla Family, Muyambi Gorilla Family and Katwe Gorilla family.
• Rushaga sector located in southern of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it stature as one the perfect places to watch gorillas in their natural state. The sector currently shelters five habituated gorilla families among which include; Nshongi, Kahungye, Mishaya, Busingye and Bweza. This is as well-known as a sector for gorilla habituation experience.
• Nkuringo sectors; is another great trekking sector among which rewarding with the most challenging trekking experience. The sector overlooks the Virunga massifs, it has 3 habituated gorilla families among which include Nkuringo family, Bushaho and Christmas gorilla family.