Meet Our Chimpanzees

Sunday is a gentle giant who loves playing with younger chimps. Rescued as a baby from illegal trade, he has grown into a confident adult.

Our newest baby chimpanzee, named in honor of the late Rajiv Ruparelia. Energetic, curious, and quickly learning the ways of the forest.

Katie is an intelligent and expressive female who acts as a peacemaker during group integration sessions on Ngamba Island.

Rambo is known for his loud displays and strong presence, keeping order among the males while being affectionate towards caregivers.

Bwambale was rescued from Kasese. He is extremely clever with tool use, often using sticks to retrieve termites and honey.

Connie is one of the founding matriarchs of Ngamba Island Sanctuary. She is calm, wise, and highly respected by the entire sanctuary family.

Nkuumwa is playful and adventurous. She loves spending her days high up in the rainforest canopy foraging for wild fruits.

Kidondo is an observant male with a gentle demeanor. He builds elaborate night nests and enjoys peaceful grooming sessions with his friends.

Nagoti is known for her curious personality and affinity for interacting with visitors near the elevated feeding platform.

Cindy was rescued as an orphan in western Uganda. She has formed deep social bonds and often protects younger chimps.

Yoyo is energetic and loves solving enrichment puzzles given by the veterinary team during afternoon care sessions.

Sally is an affectionate female who plays a comforting role when new rescue chimpanzees arrive at the holding facility.

Mika is our iconic ambassador chimp after whom our AI guide is named! Highly intelligent and revered by caregivers.

Mawa is a bold and adventurous male who enjoys high climbing in the forest canopy and leads afternoon foraging trips.

Tumbo has a gentle soul and is famous for making cozy night nests from fresh forest leaves every evening.

Kazinga is known for his exceptional tool use, deftly using sticks to extract honey from enrichment feeders.

Kikaku is an affectionate community builder who spends hours grooming social allies near Lake Victoria.

Busingye (meaning Peace) is a peaceful female who brings harmony whenever disputes arise among group members.

Indi is a vibrant young female who loves playing chase games with younger sanctuary infants.

Kyewaga was rescued near Entebbe and has thrived on Ngamba Island into a strong, respected community member.

Megan is a wise elder female who mentors young mothers and shares fruit rewards during feeding time.

Sophie is sweet-natured and observant, often sitting near the shoreline watching birds and lake boats.

Baron is a charismatic male who loves displaying his agility along the elevated walkway perches.

Umutama is a dignified elder male whose presence brings calm and order to the feeding platform.

Stany is energetic and quick-witted, always eager to explore new puzzle feeders designed by our vet team.

Becky is a loving female who acts as a surrogate mother for newly integrated orphan chimpanzees.

Ruth is gentle and intelligent, known for sharing her leafy food branches with close companions.

Gouda is a playful male who enjoys wrestling in the long grass with his best friends Bwambale and Rambo.

Nyanza loves water activities and can often be found near the island edge enjoying Lake Victoria breezes.

Eddy is a curious young adult male who loves inspecting visitor cameras and binocular lenses from afar.

Poko is one of our resilient survivors whose courage inspires our entire sanctuary care team daily.

Tembo is strong, observant, and very protective of sanctuary infants during forest excursions.

Cocoa has a sweet disposition and loves receiving fresh fruit treats like papayas and bananas.

Medie is an active male who loves drumming on hollow tree trunks during morning forest wake-ups.

Africa is a confident female named after our beautiful continent, embodying strength and grace.

Okech was rescued from Northern Uganda and has developed into a skilled tool user and groomer.

Kalema is named in honor of Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, carrying a proud legacy of wildlife health.

Barnum is a calm male who prefers relaxing in shaded tree hammocks during sunny island afternoons.

Bugoma was rescued near Bugoma Forest, serving as a living ambassador for habitat corridor protection.

Kisembo means 'Gift' in Runyoro-Rutooro. He brings joy to caregivers with his playful gymnastics.

Mukokoma is a smart male who loves solving food puzzles and sharing rewards with his nest mate.

Nzaramba is known for his keen senses and vocal calls that alert the community when fruit feeds arrive.

Named after the Mountains of the Moon, Ruwenzori is strong, tall, and respected across the island.

Kibale represents our wild forest conservation heritage in Western Uganda. Highly active and curious.

Bunyonyi is a serene female who enjoys morning sunbathing on the elevated viewing boardwalks.

Semliki is an agile climber who leads forest foraging groups into the dense fig tree groves.

Toro is a dignified male who maintains strong social bonds with founding matriarch Connie.

Budongo is named after Budongo Central Forest Reserve, reminding us of wild chimpanzee protection.

Mabira is energetic, affectionate, and loves interacting with sanctuary veterinary health staff.

Elgon is a powerful male who enjoys high canopy perches and drum displays during sunset.

Bwindi is a gentle female who loves making lush night nests from fresh eucalyptus and banana leaves.

Asega was renowned for his athletic agility and iconic displays. He lives forever in the hearts of the Chimpanzee Trust team and visitors worldwide.

Passed away June 2026

Ikuru was a deeply cherished member of the island group whose gentle nature left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

Passed away 2025