Musanze, Rwanda | 10 September 2026
Senior government officials, conservation leaders, development partners, and tourism stakeholders from Rwanda and Uganda convened at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Campus in Musanze, Northern Province, Rwanda, for a High-Level Rwanda-Uganda Government Roundtable Meeting aimed at operationalizing transboundary tourism on Mount Sabyinyo. The meeting was held under the theme“One Mountain, Shared Prosperity: Advancing Rwanda-Uganda Cooperation for Transboundary Tourism on Mount Sabyinyo.”
The roundtable was organized within the framework of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) and brought together representatives of key government institutions, conservation organizations, and development partners to strengthen bilateral cooperation in conservation, sustainable tourism development, and regional integration.
The Rwanda delegation was led by Mr. Eugene Mutanga, Acting Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation, while the Uganda delegation was led by Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, Executive Secretary of GVTC, who guided discussions on the opportunities and operational requirements for establishing Mount Sabyinyo as a flagship transboundary tourism destination in the Greater Virunga Landscape.
Earlier in the day, delegates participated in the official commissioning of the rehabilitated Mount Sabyinyo Transboundary Hiking Trail at Volcanoes National Park. The commissioning ceremony marked a significant milestone in promoting sustainable tourism and strengthening cross-border conservation cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda.
The European Union Delegation to Rwanda, a key development partner supporting the initiative, participated in the event and was represented by Mr. Vincent Laporte, Team Leader for Economics and Governance. On behalf of the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, Mr. Laporte officially commissioned the rehabilitated 12-kilometre Sabyinyo Hiking Trail on the Rwandan side of Volcanoes National Park.
The trail rehabilitation was implemented through funding from the European Union under a broader regional conservation and tourism development initiative. Under the same project, 7 kilometres of the Sabyinyo hiking trail in Uganda were also rehabilitated, improving visitor access and enhancing the tourism experience on both sides of the mountain.
Beyond tourism infrastructure, the project has delivered important conservation and community benefits. It supported the maintenance of the Sarambwe International Boundary between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, contributing to improved transboundary conservation management. The initiative also provided support to communities in Kyanika Sector, Burera District, Rwanda, helping mitigate human-wildlife conflicts associated with wildlife movements from the neighboring Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
In his remarks, Dr. Andrew G. Seguya emphasized that Mount Sabyinyo presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate how shared natural resources can drive regional integration, conservation, and economic development. He noted that the mountain's strategic location at the convergence of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo makes it an ideal platform for developing innovative models of transboundary tourism governance and cooperation.
Discussions during the roundtable focused on positioning Mount Sabyinyo as a premier transboundary tourism destination, improving visitor experiences across borders, promoting joint marketing initiatives, facilitating cross-border travel arrangements, and exploring mechanisms for financing joint tourism and conservation initiatives. Participants also deliberated on institutional, conservation, security, and operational requirements necessary to support seamless visitor movement and coordinated destination management.
A key outcome of the meeting was the commitment by both countries to strengthen collaboration towards the development of a framework for the operationalization of transboundary tourism on Mount Sabyinyo. Participants endorsed the establishment of a Rwanda-Uganda Joint Technical Working Group, which will advance technical consultations and develop recommendations on tourism promotion, visitor management, revenue-sharing mechanisms, security coordination, and related cooperation arrangements.
The meeting also benefited from the participation of leading conservation organizations, including the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, whose continued support contributes significantly to mountain gorilla conservation and sustainable tourism development across the Greater Virunga Landscape. Uganda Tourism Board and Rwanda Tourism Chamber were represented at the highest levels.
As Rwanda and Uganda continue to deepen cooperation around shared natural heritage, the Mount Sabyinyo initiative stands as a powerful example of how conservation, tourism, and regional integration can work together to create lasting benefits for protected areas, neighboring communities, and future generations.
The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) and its partners express their sincere appreciation to the European Union Delegation to Rwanda for its generous financial support through the Transboundary Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Development (TEMS) Programme, which made this initiative possible. This support demonstrates the European Union's strong commitment to biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism development, regional integration, and improved livelihoods for communities living alongside the Greater Virunga protected areas. The achievements celebrated during the High-Level Roundtable Meeting are a testament to the value of sustained partnerships and the European Union's continued contribution to building a shared and prosperous future for the region.
Report by the GVTC Executive Secretariat
For further information, contact: es@greatervirunga.org
