What's Does Our Name Symbolise? 

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Mubare is one of the first mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park this family was named after a certain hill in the forest called Mubare as well as Mubare meaning "counting" in the local Bakiga tribe language.

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What is Our Story?

 

MBC was founded in response to the growing poaching crisis in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which was threatening the area's wildlife. Traps and snares were being set to catch bush pigs, antelope, and other small animals for local consumption. Unfortunately, even the majestic mountain gorillas, along with many other non-target species, were often caught in these traps.

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We realized that poaching was driven by poverty. Local communities, struggling to make ends meet, relied on bushmeat either for their own consumption or for sale. With no alternative income sources, the forest became their livelihood.

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Determined to address both environmental loss and poverty, we knew that the key to protecting the park's wildlife was to work directly with the poachers, offering them viable alternatives to hunting. And so, we launched our Reformed Poacher Program.

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In 2016, we held our first community meetings to discuss wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict. To our surprise, 10 community members stepped forward, admitting to poaching and agreeing to stop and hand over their hunting equipment.

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This breakthrough marked the beginning of our journey. Over time, we reached 305 poachers, helping them surrender their equipment and find new ways to support themselves. We formed six reformed poacher groups across the region, where members could share their experiences and receive support. Through sustainable livelihood programs like rabbit farming, beekeeping, and pig breeding, we were able to offer practical solutions to create lasting change.

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At MBC, we believe in turning poachers into wildlife guardians, empowering communities to thrive while safeguarding the wildlife of Bwindi for generations to come.