Bafumbira people: the community living beside gorilla country

Updated 19 October 2026

The Bafumbira are the people of Bufumbira, the area around Kisoro in Uganda’s far south-west, at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. They speak Rufumbira, a dialect of Kinyarwanda, and share much of their language and culture with Rwanda, because the area was divided by the colonial border agreed in 1910. Most are farmers on the steep, fertile volcanic slopes around Mgahinga and the southern sectors of Bwindi, and they are the communities you meet when trekking gorillas in Rushaga, Nkuringo or Mgahinga.

History and the border

Before colonial rule, the Bufumbira area had close links with the Rwandan kingdom. The Virunga region was disputed between Britain, Germany and Belgium until boundary agreements in 1910 placed Bufumbira in the British Uganda Protectorate. As a result, Bafumbira are Ugandan citizens with family, language and trade ties across the border in Rwanda and Congo, and Kisoro’s busy markets reflect this cross-border life. See our guide to how Uganda’s borders were drawn.

Farming on the volcanoes

The volcanic soils are among the most fertile in Uganda, and almost every slope is cultivated, often in terraces, with Irish potatoes, beans, sorghum, maize and vegetables. Population density is very high, which means farmland reaches right to the park boundaries. That makes relations with the parks important: crop raiding by wildlife, park rules and the sharing of tourism income all affect daily life. See our guide to conservation challenges around the parks.

Culture and neighbours

Bafumbira music and dance share roots with Rwandan traditions, including energetic dances similar to intore, often performed for visitors at lodges. Most people are Christian, with strong Catholic and Anglican churches. The Batwa, the region’s original forest people, live among Bafumbira communities, often in difficult conditions after losing access to the forests. See our guides to intore dance and the Batwa Trail.

Meeting the community

Many guides, porters and lodge staff in Rushaga, Nkuringo and Mgahinga are Bafumbira, and community walks, market visits in Kisoro and cultural performances offer respectful ways to learn more. Hiring a porter and buying local crafts put money directly into the community. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November.

Frequently asked questions