ANCIENT CONNECTION TO THE FOREST
The Batwa are one of the oldest Indigenous Peoples in Central and East Africa, historically living as forest-dwelling hunter-gatherers. For centuries, they inhabited the high-altitude tropical forests of present-day Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, the Batwa lived primarily in and around what is now the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
CULTURAL & ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
The Batwa hold intimate ecological knowledge of forest ecosystems, including medicinal plants, food sources (e.g., wild honey, yams, bush meat), and sustainable harvesting techniques. They practiced intergenerational oral storytelling, traditional medicine, and spiritual rituals deeply rooted in forest life. Their lifestyle exemplified Indigenous environmental stewardship long before the rise of modern conservation discourse.
CONSERVATION REFUGEES
In the early 1990s, the Ugandan government—backed by international conservation agencies—declared Bwindi and Mgahinga forests as national parks to protect endangered mountain gorillas. The Batwa were forcibly evicted from these forests without consultation, compensation, or resettlement support. Conservation policy followed a "fortress conservation" model, which restricted all human access to the forest, including the Batwa who had coexisted with it sustainably for generations. Since their eviction, Batwa have been banned from entering their ancestral lands. Attempts to return to the forest have often resulted in fines, arrest, or even violence.
IMPACT OF EVICTION & DISPOSSESSION
The loss of forest access devastated Batwa health, food security, and cultural continuity. Batwa now live on the margins of society, often on land they do not own, and with limited access to education, healthcare, or economic opportunities. Their communities face extreme poverty, high rates of malnutrition, and significantly lower life expectancy compared to their non-Indigenous neighbors. Dispossession has also caused profound psychological and emotional distress.
RESILIENCE & ADVOCACY
Despite marginalization, the Batwa have consistently resisted their erasure and advocated for access to the forest and recognition of their rights. Their demands remain clear: uphold Indigenous Rights, return access to ancestral forests, just compensation for their forced displacement, and support landback initiatives.