Uganda holds rhino naming ceremony to boost conservation efforts

Uganda on Monday held a special ceremony where 17 rhino calves were named at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in the central district of Nakasongola as part of efforts to revive a species once extinct in the country.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Minister of Public Service Wilson Muruli Mukasa, President Yoweri Museveni recalled that by 1986, Uganda's rhino population had been wiped out due to conflict.

"Today's event is a highlight of the effort of the ministry of tourism, and we now pride ourselves in the presence of 48 rhinos, 30 males and 18 females, excluding the two at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre in Entebbe," Museveni said.

The naming ceremony, which coincided with World Rhino Day, allows individuals, corporations, and philanthropists to symbolically "adopt" and name a rhino, with the proceeds supporting habitat expansion, veterinary care, and conservation efforts.

James Musinguzi, executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), said the ceremony was expected to raise more than $11 million (Sh1.4 billion) for rhino conservation.

"Naming of 17 calves today is more than statistics; it is a powerful statement that Uganda has chosen restoration over despair and resilience over loss," he said.

Musinguzi said 20 rhinos from the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will soon be translocated to the Ajai Wildlife Reserve, a conservation protected area in northwestern Uganda, marking their reintroduction into the wild.

Uganda also plans to reintroduce the indigenous eastern rhino species alongside the current southern white rhino population, he added.

Tom Butime, minister of tourism, wildlife and antiquities, said rhino conservation not only brings ecological benefits but also generates income and supports livelihoods.

Butime stressed that rhinos are one of the key tourism attractions in Africa, meaning that their reintroduction in Uganda has contributed to the country's tourism development.

"Today tourism contributed 5.7 per cent of gross domestic product, making it one of the leading pillars of the national economy," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the UWA announced plans to recruit more rangers and enhance monitoring through a joint command centre, using drones and helicopters to track poaching and protect wildlife.

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