News
16 October 2016
This article first appeared in our Organic September 2025 issue of My Green Pod Magazine. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
On 22 September 2025, Uganda will host its first Rhino Naming Ceremony, at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District.
The ceremony will mark a major milestone in the ongoing Name A Rhino campaign, a five-year, $11 million fundraising effort launched last year to secure and expand Uganda’s rhino population.
Individuals, corporates and philanthropists will be offered the unique opportunity to symbolically ‘adopt’ and name a rhino, with proceeds directly funding habitat expansion, veterinary care, anti-poaching measures and community conservation programmes.
‘This will be a celebration of how far we have come, from extinction in the wild in the 1980s, to now having 48 rhinos in Uganda, including 46 at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary’, said Dr James Musinguzi, executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). ‘But it is also a call to action. The Naming Ceremony is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to leave a lasting legacy by naming one of 17 calves and juveniles, while directly supporting rhino conservation.’
Rhinos were once widespread in Uganda, but poaching and habitat loss drove them to extinction in the wild.
Since 2006, the breeding programme at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has seen 40 southern white rhinos born from an initial founder population of six.
The aim of the rhino naming initiative is to support ongoing breeding, reintroduce rhinos into the wild – starting with Ajai Wildlife Reserve – and strengthen anti-poaching measures, with a focus on habitat protection and community involvement.
State Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahenduka noted that the translocation of rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve will connect the West Nile region to the tourism circuit, extending the rhinos’ range and bringing opportunities to communities through tourism.
‘The first-ever Rhino Naming Ceremony is a proud moment for Uganda and a powerful symbol of our commitment to conservation’, he said. ’Rhinos are not only part of our natural heritage, they are an asset that can drive tourism, jobs and sustainable growth for our communities. This year, we take the next bold step by reintroducing rhinos into Ajai Wildlife Reserve. I call on every citizen, company and partner to be part of this legacy. When you name a rhino, you are not just giving it an identity, you are securing its future and the future of conservation in Uganda.’
The naming ceremony slated for September will bring together various stakeholders and mark the beginning of the translocation process.
‘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.’
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%.
This will be driven by strengthened security, protection and law enforcement, reintroduction and establishment of new populations, building national capacity for effective management and promoting education and awareness of the value of rhino conservation.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has put in place a rhino translocation committee to ensure the rhinos are delivered to Ajai before the end of this year.
UWA’s executive director emphasised that protecting rhinos ‘is not just about preserving a species; it’s about securing our ecosystems, supporting tourism and creating long-term benefits for local communities.’
Individuals, companies, philanthropists and global conservation supporters are invited to join the Name A Rhino Campaign, and help to directly fund rhino protection, habitat expansion and community benefit projects.
Information about Uganda’s rhinos and how to support the Name a Rhino campaign is here.
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