The Kihomboza  chimpanzees

The Kihomboza chimpanzees are one of two communities monitored by BCCP that lost their former forest home after it was leased to investors who converted it to other land uses (the other being the Kiraira–Kasunga community). In response, the Kihomboza chimps began ranging in nearby villages where they could find food on farmers’ fields. 

These chimpanzees eat a greater range of agricultural crops than other chimpanzee groups we monitor. We expect this is related to the speed and extent of habitat loss they experienced. Today, little natural forest remains within their home range. Lacking natural forest cover, the chimpanzees make extensive use of exotic pine and eucalyptus tree plantations, which they use for resting, nesting and foraging. For example, the Kihomboza chimpanzees feed on the bark, cambium, sap, dead wood, leaves, and underground roots of eucalyptus trees.

We began monitoring the Kihomboza community in 2022. In 2025, the community numbered 19 individuals. 

bccp_individual chimp page - kihomboza_the kihomboza chimpanzees

Location map

Style-Two-Pin-Marker--Streamline-Ultimate 1
Kihomboza

Meet the chimps of Kihomboza

Emmanuel (Emma)

The Kihomboza chimpanzees are headed by alpha male Emmanuel, who notably is missing his right leg from above the knee. Presumably, his amputation was caused by a steel trap or snare, perhaps when he was a youngster. Despite his significant disability, Emma (as he’s known) is a large and formidable male who rules with an iron fist. He guards the group’s females jealously and is intolerant of other males. Emma frequently terrorises beta male Pasco through persistent displays and harassment, and he’s recently turned his attention to keeping young male Bob in his place.  

Bob

Bob is a young male aged about 13 years. He’s a notably calm and relaxed individual and the likely future successor to take over the alpha position from one-legged Emmanuel. For now, however, Bob doesn’t pose a major threat to Emma—he needs to mature some more—but we expect this will change over the next couple of years. 

Peace

Peace is one of seven mature females in the Kihomboza community. She has a crooked right hand—presumably caused by an old snare injury—and walks using the back of her hand instead of the knuckles. Peace has a 4-year-old juvenile male named Devis.

Vicky

Vicky is a large, old female, probably in her 40s. She was initially very shy when we started monitoring the community, but recently she’s become more relaxed around Chimp Monitor Nicholas, on whose family’s land the Kihomboza chimps are often found. Vicky has a male infant born in 2022 and a juvenile daughter named Nicole. 

Rosaline

Rosaline is a young female aged around 12 years. She migrated into the Kihomboza group in 2022. We’re not sure where she came from. However, she first spent several months wandering near a residential area on the outskirts of Hoima City before she finally found her way to Kihomboza.