My Story

Nkuumwa’s Profile

Throughout the centuries, brave explorers traveled the globe and beyond to discover new lands. Ferdinand Magellan of Portugal proved the world is round with his mission to sail around the world.

Sir John Speke travelled the world to discover the source of the Nile and U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon.

But have you ever heard about the story of the first Chimpanzee to set foot on Ngamba Island.

Well that’s me

My name is Nkuumwa and I was among the first 19 Chimps to arrive at Ngamba Island. On October 12th 1998 we arrived at the Island and I being three years old at the time, I was taken off the boat first and had my small cage opened before the others we taken off the boat, that’s how I managed to make history.

But that’s not the only privilege I received as a three year old chimp at the Island. While there so many female Chimps wanted to foster me like Katie, Connie, Nagoti, Sophie and Peace who competed to carry me in turns as we went to the forest and slept with me most nights in the hammock. During day I had a couple of fathers who taught me how to climb trees like Sunday, Eddie, Robbie, Kidogo and Maisko.

No wonder I was named Nkuumwa a luganda word which means I am protected. I was protected and still I’m today. At 21 years old, I’ve never been endangered nor encountered someone who tried to turn me into a pet.

When you visit Ngamba Island, I am the female Chimpanzee with grey hair all over my body.

Make sure you say Hi when you see me at the feeding platform.

1000 pant hoots

Nkuumwa.