Uganda is home to over a half of the global population of the critically endangered mountain gorillas. These gorillas can be seen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The latter has only 1 habituated gorilla family (Nyakagezi), while Bwindi has at least 22 habituated gorilla families.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone has over 459 individual mountain gorillas. The habituated mountain gorillas can be tracked in its 4 sectors. These are Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo.
Nkuringo sector
This sector is situated in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and northwest of Rushaga sector. the word ‘Nkuringo’ can be translated in English as ‘rolling stones.’ This is because the terrain is quite steep. The gorilla families that are found in Nkuringo sector include the following,
- Nkuringo family
This was initially headed by a silverback called Nkuringo. After Nkuringo’s death, Rafiki succeeded him. Now, this family is headed by the silverback Rwamutwe. He leads a group composed of 14 individuals: 2 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, a juvenile, 5 adult females, a sub-adult female and 3 infants. The Nkuringo family is mostly seen foraging food outside the forest.
- Christmas family
This gorilla family was already habituated while it was still together with the Nkuringo group. After breaking away from the latter, this gorilla family was led under a silverback, Christmas. This is how the gorilla family got its name. This was also because the dominant silverback was born on Christmas day. The family consists of 8 members. These are categorised into a single silverback, 2 adult females, 3 sub-adults and 2 infants.
- Posho family
This group also broke away from the Nkuringo family. This was during the leadership of Rafiki. Initially, Posho was the leader of this family. Now Magara is the dominant silverback. Its name is because posho (corn-meal) was consumed by the trackers during most of the habituation process. Posho family is among the newly habituated groups and composed of 17 members. There is 1 silverback, heading 8 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, 2 juveniles and 4 infants.
- Bushaho family
This is a semi-habituated group led by the dominant silverback called Bahati. He is highly entertaining and trackers point this out as the main reason other gorillas joined him. After being habituated, it got the name Bushaho because of where the group forages. As of January 2024, Bahati heads a group of 9 gorillas including himself. They are 1 silverback, 1 blackback, 3 adult females, 1 sub-adult female and 3 infants.
Rushaga sector
This region is situated in the southern most part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The habituated gorilla families found here include the following,
- Mucunguzi family
The name Mucunguzi is translated as literally ‘savior’ and is got from the dominant silverback, Mucunguzi. Prior establishing this group, Mucunguzi used to live solo. He decided to invade the Bikyingi gorilla family and took away 2 adult female gorillas from there. Now, he leads this habituated gorilla family that has a total of 15 individuals. They include 1 silverback, 7 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, a juvenile and 4 infants.
- Nshongi family
This was one of the biggest families with around 36 members. Later, the family was left with 26 groups as some gorillas went to join a new family. The group is led by an experienced dominant silverback, Nshongi. The name comes from the Nshongi River, where the family was first seen. At the moment, the Nshongi gorilla family has over 19 members and power struggles are not serious in this group.
- Mishaya family
This group is led by the dominant silverback, Tinfayo. Initially, the Mishaya group was led by the silverback, Mishaya after splitting from the Nshongi group. After the death of Mishaya, most of the members joined other gorilla groups. However, trackers discovered the group to be under the guidance of Tinfayo and then re-habituated. The Mishaya family is currently having 9 members with a silverback, 5 adult females, 1 juvenile and 2 infants.
- Kahungye family
This group is led by the dominant silverback called Kasigazi. The Kahungye family was first spotted in the Kahungye hill when the process of habituation began. This is where the family’s name is derived. Though it started with 29 members, the group now has 15 members since some of them moved to a new group. The current members are composed of 1 silverback, 4 blackbacks, 4 adult females, a sub-adult female, 1 juvenile and 4 infants.
- Busingye family
This is led by the dominant silverback, Mutatina. Originally, this group broke off from the Kahungye family where they were habituated initially. During that time, they were under the leadership of Busingye, where the family’s group was got. Right now, there are around 17 members in the Busingye family. They include a silverback, 7 adult females, 2 sub-adult females and 7 infants individuals.
- Bweza family
This group was initially part of the habituated Nshongi family. But silverback Kakono, the original leader of the Bweza group split from the Nshongi family to establish the former. Currently, Rurehuka is the dominant silverback and leads a group of 14 members. These are composed of 3 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 4 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, a juvenile and 3 infants.
- Bikyingi family
Initially led by Bikyingi, whose name was given to the group. The Bikyingi family was succeeded by a silverback, Kaharata. This was after the latter killed Bikyingi in a brutal fight. After this some of the members migrated to join other gorilla groups. Now, Kaharata leads a group of 9 family members. These include him as the only silverback, 2 adult females, 3 blackbacks, 2 sub-adult females and 1 sub-adult male.
- Rwigi family
This group is headed by a silverback known as Rwigi whom the group’s name is derived. His name literary means ‘door.’ The Rwigi group came from the Kahungye family. And since they were fully habituated before, they did not need to undergo the same process afresh. The Rwigi family is composed of 10 members. There is only 1 silverback, 5 adult females, 2 juveniles and 2 infants.
- Kutu family
This is led by Ndugu, a silverback. The Kutu family is just newly habituated and has an impressive 20 members. These are composed of 1 silverback, 8 adult females, 1 blackback, 1 sub-adult female, 2 juveniles and 7 infants.
- Tindatine family
The Tindatine group recently split from the Nshongi group. At the moment, there are 9 members led by a silverback. The Tindatine is also a newly habituated gorilla group.
Buhoma sector
The Buhoma gorilla sector is situated in the north of the lush Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Habituated gorilla families found here include the following,
- Mubare family
Though initially founded by the silverback Ruhondeza, Kanyonyi succeeded him after his death. But, a solitary silverback, Maraya, invaded this group and killed Kanyonyi. Maraya is still the dominant silverback. Since taking over, he has led to some infanticides especially after some gorillas decided to migrate away. Now, Maraya leads a group of 7 individuals. These are categorized as follows, 1 silverback, 3 adult females, 1 juvenile and 2 infants.
- Muyambi family
This group split from the Mubare gorilla family and is still under the leadership of the dominant silverback Muyambi. This is a newly habituated gorilla group and was formed in the year 2019. Now the Muyambi family is composed of 7 individual gorillas. There is 1 silverback, 4 adult females and 2 infant gorillas.
- Habinyanja family
The name ‘Habinyanja’ implies ‘a place with water.’ This is because this habituated gorilla family was first seen close to a swamp within the Buhoma sector. The Habinyanja family used to colonize areas beyond Buhoma. Currently, the dominant silverback Makara leads this family of 13 individuals. There are 2 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, 4 adult females, 2 sub-adult females, 2 juveniles and an infant gorilla.
- Rushegura family
The Rushegura family was originally headed by the silverback, Mwirima. The name Rushegura is got from a tree species where Mwirima faced off in a battle with his Habinyanja leader. This led to the breakaway from the latter group to form his own. After his death, the silverback Kabukojo succeeded him. The family has 16 individuals; 2 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, 5 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, 2 sub-adult males and 4 infants.
- Katwe family
This Katwe family is led by the silverback, Mahaane. This group came as a result of the split from the Mubare group in Buhoma. The name ‘Katwe’ is got from a hill where the habituation process began. Mahaane leads a group composed of 8 individual gorillas. These include 2 silverbacks, 1 blackback, 3 adult females and 2 infants.
Ruhija sector
The Ruhija gorilla sector is in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and northeast of Rushaga. These are the habituated gorilla families found in the sector,
- Kyaguriro family
Before getting this name, this group was called Rukara. But after the silverback called Rukara left to establish a new family, another silverback, Kasoni took over. The Kyaguriro family is dedicated for research purposes and now has 6 members. These include a silverback, 4 blackbacks and an infant.
- Mukiza family
Also dedicated for research, this group was part of the main Kyaguliro family and was initially called Kyaguliro B. They were later renamed Mukiza after the silverback Mukiza, their leader. It is difficult to find this family in the fringes of the forest as they spend most of their time inside the forest. Mukiza leads and protects a group of 19 members. Categories of members are 1 silverback, 8 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, 2 juveniles and 7 infants.
- Oruzogo family
This group is led by the silverback Kaganga. The name Oruzogo is derived from a plant species known locally by the same name. The family is unique because they are the only known gorilla family to feed on Oruzogo in the forest. Now there are 11 members comprised of 1 silverback, 6 blackbacks, 2 adult females, a juvenile and an infant.
- Bitukura family
This is led by the mighty silverback called Mugisha. He replaced Ndahura, a silverback who died after falling off from a tree. This is one of the gorilla families that can tolerate a bigger than normal number of male gorillas. Currently, Mugisha heads a family composed of 13 members. These include 2 silverbacks, 2 blackbacks, 4 adult females, a sub-adult female and 2 infants.
