Business
Name a Rhino
Uganda to host first Rhino Naming Ceremony as $11m Name a Rhino conservation campaign reaches milestone.
19 September 2025
This article first appeared in our COP30 special issue of My Green Pod Magazine. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
Main image: A male waterbuck in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, Africa
In My African Journey, Sir Winston Churchill described Uganda as the ‘pearl of Africa’ – though to many this pearl remains a hidden treasure.
A brutal period of civil war and repression – compounded by clashes with neighbouring nations the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan – left a legacy of civil and environmental challenges that pushed this once-booming tourist destination off the circuit.
1986 ushered in a new era and the beginnings of economic stability under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni.
Uganda’s national parks, which suffered from neglect during the period of conflict, have now recovered and the tourism sector, which was once such an important part of the nation’s economy, is preparing to thrive again.
It’s being built on foundations of peace, conservation, collaboration and a deep pride in this very special nation’s unique cultural and environmental identity.
Uganda’s cultural heritage and commitment to peaceful collaboration is nowhere more apparent than at The Royal Tombs at Kasubi, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the capital city, Kampala.
It was described by UNESCO as ‘one of the most remarkable buildings using purely vegetal materials in the entire region of sub-Saharan Africa’.
The World Heritage Committee noted that the site ‘combines the historical and spiritual values of a nation.’
The Royal Tombs are the resting place of four kings who ruled Buganda, the largest of the five traditional kingdoms that constitute modern-day East Africa.
The building is a religious centre for the royal family and a place where the Kabaka (king) and his representatives carry out important rituals related to Buganda culture.
Uganda’s five kingdoms date back to medieval times; they were abolished under Milton Obote but restored as constitutional monarchies by Yoweri Museveni in 1993.
Only four of the five kingdoms are ever active, as the kingdom in which the ruling president was born remains dormant. This pre-empts clashes for power with the government – a nod to the tensions that unfolded in the past – and is a clear message that unity, shared purpose and celebration of heritage will be part of the fabric of this nation.
The circular building, constructed using poles, spear grass, reeds and wattle, is a work of art and testament to the creative genius and exceptional craftsmanship of the Baganda.
The thick thatched roof is held together by 52 rings of palm fronds, representing the 52 traditional clans of the Baganda people.
Just as the 52 rings are fundamental to the roof’s structure, the 52 clans have historically been essential to Buganda’s social structure. Each clan can trace its lineage back to a common ancestor, and is represented by a totem that is central to the clan’s identity.
Marriage is forbidden within a clan and clan members are forbidden from eating their plant or animal totem.
The clan and its totem are intimately linked; the totem’s characteristics are reflected in each clan member’s mottos and role in society; as an example, the oldest clan is the Fumbe (African civet), and its male members were medicine men to the king.
Uganda’s close links to the natural world are encouraged by the nation’s diverse ecosystems, which range from swamps and rainforests to volcanic mountains.
The nation boasts 10 national parks; the Rwenzori Mountains, dubbed the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, stretch 120km along the border with DRC in western Uganda. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has also been designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in south-west Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley, is one of Africa’s most ancient and biologically diverse rainforests. The 25,000-year-old jungle is home to an incredible 400 plant species and famously protects roughly 459 mountain gorillas – almost half of the world’s remaining population. It’s one of the best places to experience gorilla trekking.
Across the Equator, Kibale National Park is renowned for its extraordinary primate diversity; visitors get a rare chance to encounter 13 different primate species during an immersive trek. Red colobus, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey and grey-cheeked mangabey are frequently spotted in the forest canopy, but the Kibale chimpanzees are the undisputed stars of the show.
Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest and most iconic safari destination, while Kidepo Valley is the nation’s most remote and least explored national park. It sits in wilderness in the north-east corner, a ‘wild frontier’ region bordering South Sudan and just 5km west of Kenya.
Lakes and rivers cover nearly 20% of the country, and we were stunned by the variety of birdlife on the edges of Lake Victoria, Uganda’s largest lake, when we stayed at Nature’s Green Beach Resort.
This resort comprises a collection of beautiful lakeside cottages dotted around a lush expanse of trees and flowers.
Just 20 minutes south of the centre of Kampala, the resort is a true oasis and a hidden gem for intrepid travellers beginning or ending their adventure in Uganda.
It’s a perfect honeymoon location but equally supportive of families, and our stay was made magical with a campfire dinner under the stars.
Maribou storks bravely wove their way between the edge of the fish-filled lake and the resort’s decking, and monitor lizards rustled in the low vegetation at the water’s edge.
Pied flycatchers dipped in and out of the water, under the watchful eye of cormorants and white egrets, who perched patiently on old posts protruding from the water. Glossy ibis roamed the grounds, completely unfazed by our proximity and interest.
Nature’s Green Beach Resort is owned by Yogi Biriggwa; as the recently elected President of Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), Yogi knows a thing or two about what makes travellers tick.
Uganda has a target of $4 billion in tourism earnings by 2030; it’s not easy – hotels pay up to 26 different taxes and licenses – but Yogi’s vision is one of collaboration. She is partnering with government, development partners and communities in a bid to position Uganda as Africa’s leading sustainable, inclusive and globally competitive tourism destination.
Tourism currently contributes 6.6% to Uganda’s GDP and over $1.2 billion in foreign exchange earnings, while supporting more than 800,000 jobs.
The goal now is to elevate Uganda’s voice in the global tourism conversation, showcase the country’s unique treasures to travellers who care about making a difference and to keep Uganda shining brightly on the world stage.
State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Martin Mugarra, has acknowledged tourism has a key role to play in economic growth, job creation and cultural preservation, and boosting Uganda’s global visibility.
Yogi recently led a high-level dialogue with H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, which reaffirmed the central role of tourism in Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
The meeting marked a major step towards deeper public-private sector collaboration to unlock the sector’s full potential.
The President described tourism as ‘a powerful export and foreign exchange earner that must be treated as such’. ‘Tourism is an export and it should not be taxed’, he said. ‘It brings in foreign exchange, and our government policy is clear; exports should not be taxed. I will harmonise with the relevant arms of government to issue full guidance on taxation and support for the tourism industry.’
One of the key components of the tourism strategy is conservation, and in September Uganda held its first Rhino Naming Ceremony, at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District.
Rhinos were once widespread in Uganda, but poaching and habitat loss drove them to extinction in the wild.
The goal of the Naming Ceremony is to secure and expand Uganda’s rhino population by giving individuals, corporates and philanthropists the unique opportunity to symbolically ‘adopt’ and name a rhino. Proceeds will directly fund habitat expansion, veterinary care, anti-poaching measures and community conservation programmes.
Under the National Rhino Conservation and Management Strategy for Uganda (2018-2028), the country aims to achieve an annual rhino population growth rate of at least 5%.
Since 2006, the breeding programme at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has seen 40 southern white rhinos born from an initial founder population of six.
‘This is more than a naming ceremony’, said Juliana Kagwa, CEO of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB); ‘it is a platform to showcase Uganda’s commitment to sustainable tourism. Our natural heritage is our competitive advantage, and protecting it ensures that visitors continue to choose Uganda for authentic wildlife experiences.’
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