Life Around Bwindi

More than half a million people live in the parishes surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Their relationship with the forest is complex, shaped by history, conservation policy, economic pressures, and a deep cultural connection to the land.

The Bakigaare the region's largest ethnic group, known as skilled farmers and cultivators who have shaped the hillside landscape with terraced fields of bananas, beans, cassava, and tea. Their agricultural traditions sustain the majority of households around the park.

The Batwa, sometimes referred to as Pygmies, are the original inhabitants of the forest. For thousands of years, they lived as hunter-gatherers within what is now the national park. When Bwindi was gazetted in 1991, the Batwa were displaced from their ancestral home — a decision that protected the forest and its gorillas but profoundly disrupted the lives and identity of the Batwa people.

Today, the relationship between communities and conservation continues to evolve. Revenue from gorilla trekking permits is shared with surrounding parishes, supporting schools, health centres, and infrastructure. Community-based tourism offers visitors the opportunity to engage with local culture while providing direct income to families. And grassroots projects like HopeKitchen in Buhoma work to address food insecurity and education gaps.