The annual event, one of Rwanda's flagship conservation celebrations, will honour gorillas born over the past year while highlighting the country's long-standing commitment to wildlife conservation and community development.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kigali on Tuesday, August 11, Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF), the agency that now manages Volcanoes National Park, said the ceremony comes as mountain gorilla conservation continues to deliver encouraging results across the Virunga Massif.

"There are about 1,100 mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif. They remain the only great ape whose population continues to grow. This is an extraordinary conservation achievement, but it is not one that Rwanda has accomplished alone," Mutangana said.

He attributed the growth in the endangered species' population to decades of collaboration involving governments, conservation organisations, researchers, veterinarians, park rangers, regional partners and communities.

Since the launch of Kwita Izina in 2005, a total of 438 gorillas have received names. This year's 22 newborns will raise that figure to 460.

Mutangana said each newborn gorilla symbolises the continued success of conservation initiatives, reflecting the sustained work being carried out to protect habitats, monitor animal health and ensure the species continues to thrive.

He added that Kwita Izina has evolved beyond a naming ceremony into a broader platform that promotes conservation, tourism and community development.

The announcement comes as Rwanda's tourism industry continues to record strong growth. The sector generated more than $685 million in revenue in 2025, up from $647 million in 2024, driven by more than 1.49 million international visitors.

This year's programme will feature several activities leading up to the main ceremony, including the launch of a community development project, familiarisation tours for international travel media and tourism trade representatives, a conservation exhibition and guided gorilla trekking experiences.

The event also underscores the link between conservation and socio-economic development. Through Rwanda's tourism revenue-sharing programme, more than Rwf 23 billion (about $16 million) has been invested in nearly 1,300 community projects, including schools, health facilities, water infrastructure and livelihood initiatives in areas surrounding national parks.

Kwita Izina continues to play a key role in promoting Rwanda as a leading ecotourism destination while reinforcing the country's conservation model, which seeks to ensure that protecting wildlife also delivers tangible benefits to neighbouring communities.