This year’s Kwita Izina ceremony has been set for June 5, the day Rwanda will be the global host of the World Environment Day (WED).

The date for the ceremony that is held annually at the foot of Virunga Mountains was announced yesterday by Rwanda Development Board/ Tourism and Conservation (RDB/T&C) office.

According to Annette Mbabazi Tamara, the RDB/T&C Communications Officer, this year’s Gorilla Naming ceremony (Kwita Izina) which will be the 6th edition, is being organized in collaboration with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

The theme for this year’s Kwiti Izina according to Tamara, is "Raising global awareness of biodiversity conservation as we give names to our baby gorillas.” 

"As we celebrate the birth of newborn mountain gorillas, we shall also urge Rwandans and the international community to engage in environmental protection and bring an end to the loss of biodiversity,” Tamara said.

"We will also be looking for innovative solutions and approaches to reduce threats to biodiversity including the majestic mountain ranges, the habitat to our gorillas.”

Kwita Izina will also be used as a platform to raise public awareness on the importance of biodiversity and its protection from underlying threats.

"We shall portray the significance of establishing interconnections between biodiversity, conservation and green economy,” Tamara add

The week-long celebration will include a number of activities scheduled to take place including community service (Umuganda), Kwita Izina cycle race, conservation conference, launch of community projects and a community party-Igitaramo. 

Kwiti Izina is one of the major events on the country’s tourism calendar.

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