Kwita Izina 2026: Preparations intensify in Musanze as pre-ceremony activities get underway

Preparations for the 2026 Kwita Izina ceremony, during which 21 baby gorillas will be given names on Friday, 4 September 2026, are gaining momentum in Musanze District, with a series of sporting and entertainment activities already underway ahead of the internationally acclaimed conservation event.

On Friday, 14 August 2026, residents of Kinigi Sector got an early taste of the excitement surrounding the forthcoming celebrations when Kampanga Stadium hosted a friendly football match between Musanze District officials, known as the Inyangakugoma of Musanze District, and staff members of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

The match kicked off at around 3 p.m. and ended with the Inyangakugoma of Musanze securing a narrow 1–0 victory over the RDB team.

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The result also served as a form of sporting redemption for the Musanze side, following their 2–0 defeat to the RDB team in 2025 during activities leading up to last year’s Kwita Izina celebrations.

Both sides displayed considerable determination and competitive spirit, with each team relentlessly seeking to break the deadlock. The encounter attracted a large crowd of supporters from Kinigi and surrounding areas.

The friendly match formed part of the activities preceding Kwita Izina and will be followed by an inter-district sporting competition sponsored by SACOLA, bringing together teams representing the four districts neighbouring Volcanoes National Park, namely Musanze, Burera, Nyabihu and Rubavu.

Landuard Gahonzire, the Executive Secretary of Kinigi Sector, where the Kwita Izina ceremony will be held, urged residents to prepare adequately for the event and use the activities as an opportunity to deepen their understanding of biodiversity conservation.

He said: “The Kwita Izina ceremony for the baby gorillas is approaching. You are already familiar with this event, and many of you have participated in it before. The sporting activities we have initiated are part of an awareness campaign aimed at enhancing residents’ understanding of biodiversity conservation.”

Gahonzire also encouraged residents to continue participating actively in government-led development initiatives, including community-wide Umuganda activities.

Fidele Habarurema, an official from SACOLA, thanked the Musanze District administration for its collaboration in organising the sporting activities, noting that the initiative will extend to the other districts involved.

“We thank the District leadership for accepting our support for these sporting activities. This is an initiative that will take place across four districts: Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu,” he said.

He explained that SACOLA was established through collaboration between the Rwanda Development Board and local government authorities, with its core objectives including environmental conservation and improving the socio-economic well-being of communities living around protected areas.

“On behalf of the leadership of SACOLA, I would like to inform you that this is only the beginning. The programme will continue, and the sporting activities will proceed across the districts we have mentioned. Today’s event was intended to officially launch these activities leading up to the Kwita Izina ceremony that will take place here in Kinigi,” he added.

Louise Mbabazi, an RDB official responsible for strengthening linkages between national parks and surrounding communities, commended SACOLA for supporting the activities organised ahead of Kwita Izina.

She said the enthusiastic participation of residents in such activities reflects an environment characterised by peace and security, while urging them to continue preparing for the ceremony and maintaining high standards of cleanliness.

“I would like to thank SACOLA for supporting the activities you have witnessed. When people celebrate together in a spirit of happiness, it demonstrates that they are living in peace and security. We are here as part of an awareness campaign ahead of the celebrations, and we also want to remind you that Kwita Izina continues to evolve in the way it is organised,” she said.

Louise Mbabazi reminded residents that attendance at Kwita Izina has historically attracted tens of thousands of people, but that crowd management and the organisation of the event have evolved in recent years.

“You remember that, in the past, you would all gather at the venue, with attendance reaching between 30,000 and 35,000 people. Last year, the number was around 10,000, and this year it will also be 10,000. For those who will not be able to attend the ceremony at the venue for various reasons, wherever you are, you must uphold high standards of cleanliness,” she said.

She further reminded residents that Kwita Izina has become a major international conservation event, attracting global attention because of Rwanda’s exceptional natural heritage, particularly the Volcanoes and the mountain gorillas that inhabit them.

“You know that the whole world comes to us here in Musanze because of the extraordinary natural heritage we have—the Volcanoes and the mountain gorillas,” she said.

As part of the activities preceding Kwita Izina, residents were also encouraged to maintain cleanliness, safeguard the environment and refrain from the use of illicit substances, particularly as the district prepares to welcome numerous visitors attending the celebrations.

The friendly football match between the Musanze District Inyangakugoma and the RDB team was attended by a large number of residents, representatives of local government, members of the Rwanda Defence Force and Rwanda National Police, as well as sports enthusiasts who gathered to watch the two sides compete.

The 2026 Kwita Izina ceremony, during which 21 baby gorillas will be given names, is scheduled for Friday, 4 September 2026, in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District. The activities preceding the ceremony are providing an important platform for promoting sustainable tourism, strengthening community engagement and encouraging greater public commitment to biodiversity and environmental conservation.