Ntebeeko, Kisoro District, Uganda – 14 October 2025.

As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the fight against illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) has handed over essential field equipment to the Management of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The handover ceremony took place at the park headquarters in Ntebeko, Kisoro District, and was presided over by Mrs. Kabeya Fatuma Marie Rose, GVTC Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, accompanied by Mr. Mukeshimana Juvénal, GVTC Programme Assistant.

The donated equipment included Blackview smartphones (BL 6200 Plus, 8GB RAM + 256GB storage) for data collection and reporting, hand-held GPS Garmin 65s units, power banks, green hiking backpacks (40L), sleeping mats, and waterproof tents (fiber glass, 210D, coated with silver) — all designed to enhance rangers’ patrol operations and data management in the field.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Kabeya Fatuma Marie Rose underscored GVTC’s commitment to empowering park staff and supporting frontline conservation efforts:

“We encourage the recipients to use this equipment responsibly and effectively to strengthen monitoring and reporting, as these tools are vital for achieving our shared goal of Zero Poaching across the Greater Virunga Landscape,” she said.

Representing the Management of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the Chief Warden expressed heartfelt appreciation to GVTC for the timely support:

“We are sincerely grateful to GVTC and partners for this invaluable assistance. This equipment comes at a crucial time to boost our field operations and ensure that our rangers are well-equipped to protect the park’s rich biodiversity. We commit to using them appropriately to deliver on our conservation mandate,” he stated.

This handover is part of the “Towards Zero Poaching in the Greater Virunga Landscape” project, funded by the UK Government’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The project is jointly implemented by GVTC in collaboration with WWF, WCS, IGCP, and TRAFFIC, working closely with protected area authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The project seeks to enhance the capacity, capability, and coordination of multiple agencies responsible for wildlife conservation across the GVL. By providing equipment, training, and promoting standardised monitoring tools and cross-border collaboration, the initiative aims to reduce both national and transboundary illegal wildlife trade, contributing to stable wildlife populations and improved community well-being in this critical biodiversity hotspot.