UPDATE, 17/10/2025: Tom’s family has met and defined tomorrow’s program. We are expecting our Zoom funeral coverage to begin at noon, but we can’t guarantee that yet. The best way to assure you stay updated is to send your email to experts@gorillahighlands.com.
The bellowing voice and infectious smile of Tom Karemire will now beam only from our photo and video archives. This morning, a liver issue took him away from us. For more than a decade he watched over Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi through the night, and for twenty years he welcomed hikers to his island home. In every sense, Tom was Gorilla Highlands.
He famously requested to see the mountain gorillas when he celebrated his 10 years of service with us, eager to experience the regional attraction he had only heard about. Yet for thousands of travellers, Tom himself was the true highlight of their journey.
He was last at our team gathering on New Year’s Eve in Musanze, Rwanda — but in the pre-pandemic times all such celebrations happened at Tom’s Homestay, without fail! Less than a month ago he was still there for guests who camped on his lawn, ate his fantastic crayfish and listened to his funny stories. We were already planning his 80th birthday party for next month …
So many lives were brightened by Tom Karemire that it feels only right to share his farewell with the world. His funeral will be livestreamed this Saturday, from Habukomi Island in southwestern Uganda.
Be with us, if you can.
📸 photography by:
Anika Utke joined the Gorilla Highlands Experts team in 2017 as the youngest specialist volunteer, only 18 years old. She has since graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science and worked in film development and art direction. A camera and passport are never far from reach as Anika continues to document the people and places on the five continents she has explored so far. Spending her downtime writing with a dog on her lap, Anika is currently based in Seattle, Washington. [bio updated: 2026-05]
Marcus Westberg is a multiple award-winning photographer and writer from Sweden whose work — covering conservation, wildlife and travel — appears regularly in several global publications. He has made several trips to our region specifically to volunteer for Gorilla Highlands Experts. When not globetrotting, Marcus lives with his wife and daughter close to Lisbon, Portugal. Click for our interview with Marcus. [bio updated: 2026-03]
🖋️ text and 📸 photography by:
ML Rwebandira — formerly known as Miha Logar — is an adventure and cultural tourism expert, writer and multimedia producer who co-founded Gorilla Highlands Experts. His most recent publication is the Pocket Treasure. A national of both Uganda and Slovenia, ML resides with his son Lan in Musanze, Rwanda. Click for his personality-infused quarterly newsletters. [bio updated: 2026-05]
Comments
3 responses to “Tom Karemire (1945-2025)”
Rest in Peace Dear Tom. Your Legacy lives on in the lives of all of us that you Touched. Fare thee well my night hero.
May Tom’s soul rest in peace
Are we having live stream for his funeral?
[…] what to add to all these beautiful words and the death announcement I composed last week? Tom was my brother, my granddad, my son, my business partner, and pretty much […]