Mystery Gorilla Foundation

1.     About MYSTERY GORILLA FOUNDATION (MGF)

Mystery Gorilla Foundation  is a Ugandan-based  NGO that promotes coexistence of people and wildlife through improving livelihoods while promoting conservation of park ecosystems. MGF was established as CSR arm of Mystery Gorilla Safaris in 2014, and formally registered in January 2019 in Uganda as a Non Profit Company Limited by Guarantee without Capital Shares.

It was set up to support communities to conserve and manage biodiversity in target ecosystems for lasting environmental, economic sustainability, increased community and household resilience. 

MGF works collaboratively with key government agencies that include Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), National Forest Authority (NFA) and other related departments, as well as local authorities in support of wildlife habitat conservation, collaborative forest areas management and protected area management while promoting conservation-based solutions to improve stewardship of the natural resources necessary to sustain Uganda’s economic development.  Currently, our target landscapes/areas are;

·       Bwindi-Mgahinga NPs area: Districts; Rubanda, Kisoro and Kanungu

·       Lake Mburo NP area: Districts: Isingiro, Mbarara, Rakai, Kiruhura, Lyantonde

These areas represent a major part of Uganda’s highly biodiverse areas and MGF priority areas. The focus is on park neighboring communities in districts around these protected areas in view of curtailing the illegal activities that threaten their integrity and their endangered inhabitants.

We have four integrated programs: wildlife conservation including; species, habitat and environmental conservation, clean energy and agroecology; community health including; water, sanitation and hygiene [WASH], family planning and reproductive health, and nutrition; alternative livelihoods including livestock health and production, microfinance, agribusiness and ecotourism (wildlife-based enterprises – ancillary products from wildlife e.g., crafts).

We also work with youth in schools through sports and play (for life skills development and conservation).

2.     Vision

Landscapes where wildlife populations, natural habitats, and empowered communities are resilient and prosperous. MGF envisions a future where the full array of natural wildlife habitats are healthy and conserved, through these strategic themes:

1.         Proactive maintenance and restoration of protected lands and selected natural areas;

2.         Effective collaboration among conservation partners and supporters;

3.         A knowledgeable and engaged public caring for nature in all its diversity;

4.         Support for conservation from government and community organizations; and

5.         Organizational excellence that provides a solid foundation for the achievement of MGFs’ Mission and invites participation

3.     Mission

To provide support to the conservation of biodiversity in important protected areas in rural Uganda.

4.     Goal

To assist communities and the private sector to conserve and manage biodiversity in target ecosystems for lasting environmental and economic sustainability and increased community and household resilience

Our integrated programs address these issues and also bring education programs to thousands of children and adults. Conservation works best when people are thriving too.

MGF is currently managing several projects within which all the activities aim for change at different levels. The sectors include

·       Climate-smart, Organic and/or Regenerative Agriculture – across the entire value chain with focus on value-added crops, food and nutritional security crops  

·       Eco-Tourism – nature-based tourism (both accommodation and activities).

·       Forestry – sustainable indigenous tree planting and non-timber forest products (e.g., honey

·       Wildlife-based Enterprises – ancillary products from wildlife e.g., crafts.

·       Sports and Play – life skills development and reproductive health for school children.

·       Aquaculture – environmentally-compliant fish farming.

·       Micro-credit program – financial incentives for conservation

All the above are mandated and supported by MGFs’ founding objectives that include but not limited to the following:

• Work in a Multi-stakeholder Partnership to empower vulnerable women socially and economically through various income generating activities to be able to support their children and families.
• To promote wildlife and environmental conservation with particular emphasis to maintaining and increasing the agro-forestry cover, Regenerative agriculture, integrated water management and protected area management.
• To provide social and economic empowerment services to young and teenage mothers to contribute to the development of Uganda.
• To promote education, health and holistic development of the communities.
• To identify, establish and develop income generating projects that are beneficial to the members of the community.
• To encourage and instill the culture of saving among its beneficiary members.
• To involve youths in activities which can help them, become self-reliant.
• To vigorously encourage saving and deposits for investment from youth, women and special groups in order to ensure financial sustainability as a long term goal and ensure the availability of funds to meet the credit needs of rural populations engaged in agricultural processing , animal husbandry and small scale cottage industries on a revolving basis.
• To make partnerships with local and foreign NGOs in the fields of training, volunteerism in social economic transformation.
• To cultivate and inculcate entrepreneurship and management skills among the rural poor especially the most vulnerable groups such as the Children, youths, women and the disabled persons for their self-reliance.
• To respond to the challenges of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in relation to their education, health care and support in partnership with other agencies, and individuals of good will.
• To organize the members and the community into viable socio-economic groups for purposes of improving their bargaining powers and fair markets for their produce.

To actively develop and promote strong networking schemes with women , children, youth ,health, prisons, and like-minded organizations, Government, local and foreign NGOs, churches and the entire community for the fulfillment of the above objectives and to liaise , co-ordinate and otherwise co-operate with organizations within and out of Uganda having similar objectives.