ABSTRACT
Nestled on the Uganda-DR Congo border, the Rwenzori Mountains—a UNESCO World Heritage site—are home to some of the world’s last tropical glaciers.
Project Pressure, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, led a groundbreaking expedition to the Rwenzori surveying all three mountains (Stanley, Baker, Speke) to create the first-ever 3D model of Mt. Stanley’s glaciers and install long-term monitoring equipment. The team returned with critical mapping data, scientific measurements, and comparative imagery—with a stark warning about the future.
Findings show that Mt. Speke and Mt. Baker have lost their glaciers, while the surface of the Stanley Plateau Glacier has decreased by 29.5% since 2020 and is undergoing severe fragmentation. This highlights the rapid ice loss in East Africa, with profound consequences for climate science and spiritual heritage.
Beyond the science, the loss is deeply cultural. For the Bakonzo people, the glaciers are sacred, believed to be home to their god, Kithasamba. The glaciers’ disappearance signals not just an environmental crisis, but the erosion of an irreplaceable cultural heritage.
Led by Klaus Thymann, the mapping project builds on over a decade of his glaciological work, incorporating data from his expeditions in 2012, 2020, 2022, and 2024. It represents the most comprehensive record of the region’s glacial decline.
FINDINGS
Finding – Mt. Speke
- There is no longer a glacier on Mt.Speke.
- Although there is ice, the ice does not exhibit movement and does not deform under its own weight.
Finding – Mt. Baker
- There is no longer a glacier on Mt. Baker.
- This was already observed in 2022; Mt. Baker is now practically ice-free.
Findings – Mt. Stanley
- The Mt. Stanley glaciers are becoming fragmented. The plateau and the glaciated part of Mt. Stanley’s peak, Margarita Peak, split in 2015.
- From 2020 to 2024 the surface area of Stanley Plateau glacier has reduced by 29.5%.
- From 2022 to 2024 the Stanley glacier has dropped by eight meters by the side.
- The current melting point is now mostly, if not all, above the plateau.
QUOTE FROM SCIENCE & EXPEDITION LEADER KLAUS THYMANN ABOUT DISAPPEARING GLACIERS:
“In a world where the impact of climate change is not uniformly distributed, acquiring data on glacier recession in equatorial regions has become paramount. This is invaluable for comprehending local warming trends and their consequences to help local communities adapt.”
The Rwenzori mountains have three main peaks, Mt. Stanley, Mt. Baker and Mt. Speke. The ice on Rwenzori is the highest and most permanent source of the River Nile and constitutes significant water catchment areas in Uganda—relied upon by five million people.
The Project Pressure team confirmed that the glaciers on Mt. Baker and Mt. Speke have now disappeared. The highest peak, the top of Mt. Stanley reaches 5,109 metres (16,762 ft), and the upper regions are still glaciated, but the ice is melting at alarming rates and will likely disappear in our lifetime.
To learn more, the team led by Klaus Thymann used Trimble geospatial technologies to create the first 3D model of the last remaining glacier on the Stanley Plateau. In particular, the small, lightweight, and easy-to-use Trimble Catalyst GNSS positioning service was key to success. GNSS accesses multiple satellite systems to deliver high-precision points—essential for this complex environment. With the technologies provided by Trimble, precise geolocation points were installed and data was captured at multiple sites—providing the foundational data that underpins the entire 3D photogrammetry model. This solution was critical in anchoring the high-resolution drone imagery to exact coordinates. Over several days, more than 850 images were captured, including all geolocation points, ensuring the model’s spatial accuracy. Despite challenging mountain conditions, the data collection was successful with support from Solomon Kule and Muhindo Rogers. These are the first high-precision 3D glacier models in the region. To deepen the research, Dr. Heïdi Sevestre conducted ground-penetrating radar surveys of the ice and bedrock—also a first here—with analysis led by Andrea Blindenbacher’s team in Switzerland.
For the Rwenzori’s Bakonzo people, loss of the ice has enormous cultural implications. The Bakonzo hold deep spiritual beliefs that are intricately connected to the natural landscape, particularly the snow-capped peaks. A central belief is that their gods, Kithasamba and Nyabibuya, reside in the ice of Rwenzori. For centuries, this spiritual connection has influenced how the Bakonzo interact with their environment, reinforcing conservation efforts and sustainable use of natural resources, long before colonial or modern times.
QUOTE FROM UGANDA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY’S ALFRED MASEREKA ABOUT CULTURAL MEANING:
“The Bakonzo people who live among the mountains are strong people who believe that the mountain is a very important aspect of their life. The disappearance of the ice is bad news because it means our gods are being destroyed.”
So, what’s next for the glaciers of the Rwenzori Mountains? As the ice retreats, Project Pressure continues to work with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to improve glacial estimates, create mitigating strategies, and expand local capacity for ongoing research and surveyance. This includes developing more sophisticated 3D monitoring capabilities by placing time-lapse cameras in different, overlapping locations. But most importantly, it involves empowering the local people—those who already know their environment best—to analyse and deepen our understanding of this rapidly transforming landscape.
Key Expedition Achievements
- Created the first-ever 3D model of Mt. Stanley and its glaciers.
- Installed time-lapse cameras to monitor glacial retreat.
- Empowered local community with technical monitoring capabilities.
- Detailed findings are expected to appear in a peer-reviewed publication in late 2025.
The expedition was generously supported by Parajumpers, Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, Trimble & Guideline Geo.
About Project Pressure
Project Pressure is a charity with an ecological and climate focus. Our mission is to create impactful projects that triangulate art, science, and activism resulting in actions on environmental issues.
Project Pressure has more than 15 years of experience in instigating, conceptualizing, and leading ambitious change-driven projects with an emphasis on field-building. Materials from our projects have been used by activists, policymakers, institutions, and others to support their ongoing work. Project Pressure has forged partnerships with the UN, UNESCO, NASA, the World Glacier Monitoring Service and in 2011, were recognized as a contributor to the Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers.
ABOUT KLAUS THYMANN
Science and expedition lead Klaus Thymann is a Danish explorer, environmental scientist, award- winning photographer, journalist, and filmmaker known for his cross-disciplinary work combining exploration, science, and storytelling. He is a Fellow of both the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society, and a consulting scientist with DTU and Stockholm University. Thymann has led over 60 expeditions across six continents, making significant discoveries. and creating innovative methodologies for environmental research.
ABOUT BAKONZO TEAM
The team of local mountain guides helped set up the GPS targets that provided the underlying geospatial structure for the 3D model. On the glacier were Solomon Kule Jocknus Bwabu, Muhindo Rogers and Thembo Lazarus with thanks to the leadership from the Uganda Wildlife Authority: Alfred Masereka, George Businge, John Makombo.
ANDREA BLINDENBACHER
Andrea Blindenbacher is a Remote Sensing and GIS expert specializing in drone technology, mapping, and 3D modelling, who build the 3D model. With a deep understanding of geospatial data, Andrea transforms complex datasets into detailed 3D representations of natural landscapes. Passionate about innovation, Andrea leverages technology to enhance our understanding of the world.
ABOUT HEÏDI SEVESTRE
Heïdi Sevestre is a Glaciologist and specialist in ground penetrating radar (GPR), who conducted the GPR data collection. She is currently working at the Secretariat of AMAP, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. She was guided on the mountain by Mumbere Johnson.
For more information visit www.project-pressure.org.
