Uganda to Host First Rhino Naming Ceremony as $11 Million Conservation Campaign Hits Milestone
Uganda will host its first-ever Rhino Naming Ceremony on 22 September 2025 at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, marking a milestone in the country’s $11 million (UGX 40 billion) “Name a Rhino” campaign. Announced during a high-level event in Kampala by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), and the Ministry of Tourism, the ceremony will be presided over by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The initiative allows private individuals, companies, and philanthropists to symbolically name one of 17 rhino calves, with funds supporting veterinary care, habitat protection, anti-poaching efforts, and community conservation projects.
The campaign forms part of Uganda’s broader National Rhino Conservation and Management Strategy (2018–2028), which aims to increase the rhino population by 5% annually. Since reintroducing six Southern White Rhinos in 2006, Uganda now has 48, mainly at Ziwa. The upcoming translocation of 20 rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve will expand tourism to the West Nile region and contribute to long-term community development. The ceremony highlights Uganda’s growing conservation tourism offering, positioning rhino protection as a driver of sustainable growth and wildlife-based travel experiences.
