Bwindi National Park faces bridge closure from 10 October

Bwindi National Park in Uganda is facing a bridge closure announced on 10 October 2026 after River Mucha Bridge collapsed in Kisoro District. The disruption affects direct road access from Kisoro to the Rushaga and Nkuringo gorilla-tracking sectors, while Kabale remains the nearest main town named in the park's World Heritage documentation.

Bridge closure changes access to Bwindi National Park

The Ministry of Works and Transport confirmed the collapse in a public notice issued on 10 October 2026. The crossing is impassable, affecting local motorists and travellers heading towards the two sectors. A reported travel advisory says engineers have been sent to the site for an emergency intervention.

Transport officials have directed road users towards an alternative route via Kisoro, Karengyere, Nyanamo, Rubuguri, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The diversion is a motorable murram road, and the ministry warned that journey times could increase by approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The notice also advised motorists to drive carefully in rainy conditions and to set off early.

Why the bridge matters to the World Heritage forest

The road disruption reaches beyond a single crossing because Rushaga and Nkuringo are named access sectors for gorilla tracking in the park. The affected route therefore changes how some visitors approach the forest, even though the bridge itself is outside the protected area. The October closure connects a current transport problem with the park's role as a working conservation landscape.

UNESCO describes the park as lying in south-western Uganda at the junction of plain and mountain forests. It covers 32,000 hectares and contains more than 160 species of trees and more than 100 species of ferns, alongside birds, butterflies and endangered mountain gorillas. The UNESCO World Heritage record identifies the Uganda Wildlife Authority as its management authority.

The forest stands on the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley and includes habitats ranging from 1,160 to 2,706 metres. Its varied terrain and isolated forest sectors help explain why road access is a practical part of a visit. A diversion can affect the approach to a tracking sector without changing the status of the protected forest itself.

Visiting Bwindi National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The bridge closure was announced on 10 October 2026 and affects the direct route from Kisoro towards the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors.
• The River Mucha crossing is impassable. The announced diversion runs via Kisoro, Karengyere, Nyanamo, Rubuguri, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
• The alternative road is a motorable murram route, and the transport ministry said journeys could take approximately 30 to 45 minutes longer.
• The park is in south-western Uganda, with Kabale identified as the nearest main town in the World Heritage documentation; road access also connects with Kisoro and the named park sectors.
• The forest includes steep mountain habitats reaching 2,706 metres, so visitors should expect a forest landscape with uneven terrain and changing conditions.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Bwindi National Park

What changed at Bwindi National Park on 10 October 2026?

River Mucha Bridge collapsed in Kisoro District, making the direct crossing towards the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors impassable.

Where is Bwindi National Park and how do you get there?

The park is in south-western Uganda, with Kabale identified as the nearest main town in the World Heritage record. The current notice directs traffic from Kisoro through Karengyere, Nyanamo and Rubuguri for the affected sectors.

What is Bwindi National Park known for?

It is a protected mountain and lowland forest recognised by UNESCO for its biodiversity and endangered mountain gorillas. The forest also contains more than 160 tree species and more than 100 fern species.