Introduction: A Historic Conservation Moment
On 22 September 2025, all eyes will turn to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District, as Uganda hosts its first-ever Rhino Naming Ceremony. This groundbreaking event is not only a celebration of new rhino births, but also a strategic campaign to secure the future of rhinos in Uganda through active participation, financial investment, and community engagement.
Seventeen calves and juveniles, born between 2021 and 2024, will be officially named during the ceremony. This initiative provides individuals, families, corporations, and philanthropists a rare opportunity to connect directly with Uganda’s conservation legacy. By naming a rhino, participants are doing far more than giving an animal an identity: they are ensuring its survival, funding protection, and joining a movement that places Uganda back on the map as a Big Five safari destination.
The Background: From Extinction to Renewal
Uganda’s rhinos once roamed freely across savanna and woodland landscapes. Both the Eastern Black Rhino and the Northern White Rhino were part of Uganda’s wildlife heritage. But by the 1980s, relentless poaching, habitat destruction, and years of political instability had wiped them out from the wild.
The absence of rhinos was not just a biological loss; it was a dent in Uganda’s tourism identity. The country, famous for gorilla trekking and birding, could no longer claim the Big Five safari experience. For two decades, rhinos were gone.
In 2005, a beacon of hope emerged. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was founded with the purpose of reintroducing rhinos to Uganda. Six Southern White Rhinos — four from Kenya’s Solio Ranch and two donated by Disney’s Animal Kingdom — became the foundation of a new breeding population. With dedicated management, strong security, and community cooperation, this population has steadily grown.
Today, Uganda boasts 48 rhinos, of which 46 live at Ziwa Sanctuary. For the first time in decades, rhinos are not only surviving but thriving in Uganda. And now, with calves and juveniles born in recent years, a new chapter is ready to be written — one that involves you.
Why the Rhino Naming Ceremony Matters
The Rhino Naming Ceremony is more than a cultural celebration. It is a transactional conservation mechanism designed to secure funding, inspire ownership, and elevate awareness.
1. Symbolic Guardianship
By naming a rhino, you become part of its story. This is not just symbolic , your name will be permanently associated with the rhino in conservation records, sanctuary reports, and Uganda’s national heritage.
2. Direct Impact
Funds raised through the ceremony are channeled into key conservation areas: habitat expansion, veterinary care, ranger operations, and community programs. Naming a rhino translates immediately into boots on the ground and fences on the landscape.
3. Global Positioning
Uganda is joining countries like Rwanda, which has turned its Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony into an internationally recognized conservation event. With Ziwa’s ceremony, Uganda enters that league and you have the opportunity to be there from the beginning.
The “Name a Rhino” Campaign
The ceremony is part of the broader “Name a Rhino” campaign, launched in 2023. With a target of USD 11 million over five years, the campaign is Uganda’s most ambitious rhino conservation program yet.
Objectives of the Campaign
- Expand and Protect Habitat: As the rhino population grows, more space is needed for grazing and browsing. Funds will secure land and strengthen boundary protection.
- Strengthen Anti-Poaching Security: Surveillance technology, ranger training, and intelligence networks are critical. Your contribution funds these life-saving systems.
- Enhance Veterinary Services: Rhinos require regular health monitoring, disease management, and specialized care. Each naming helps sustain veterinary programs.
- Support Communities: Local communities benefit through employment, education, and conservation-linked enterprises. Engaged communities are the first line of defense against poaching.
- Enable Translocation to Ajai Wildlife Reserve: The long-term plan is to reintroduce rhinos to Ajai, diversifying the population and re-establishing them in former ranges.
What You Gain by Naming a Rhino
This is where the campaign becomes transactional. You give, and you get.
For Individuals and Families
- Leave a lasting legacy: A rhino bearing your chosen name will live for decades, remembered long after.
- Build a personal connection: Follow your rhino’s growth, receive updates, and visit it at Ziwa.
- Pass on values of conservation: Share the story with children and grandchildren, ensuring they see the value of protecting wildlife.
For Corporations
- Align your brand with conservation: Today’s consumers reward companies that act responsibly.
- Gain media visibility: Your rhino’s naming will be publicized nationally and internationally.
- Demonstrate sustainability in action: This is more than a CSR statement — it is measurable support for conservation.
For Philanthropists and Institutions
- Showcase impact-driven giving: Your funds directly save a threatened species.
- Secure recognition at national level: The ceremony will be attended by Uganda’s President and dignitaries.
- Become part of a global conservation network, enhancing your reputation as a true wildlife guardian.
How the Ceremony Will Unfold
The Rhino Naming Ceremony at Ziwa will be presided over by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, affirming national commitment.
Participants will be invited to name one of the seventeen calves and juveniles. Names may reflect personal values, cultural heritage, or symbolic messages. Whether you choose to honor a loved one, promote a brand, or carry a conservation message, your chosen name becomes etched in conservation history.
Beyond naming, the ceremony will feature cultural performances, conservation exhibitions, and guided visits to see the rhinos. It is both a celebration and a direct demonstration of what conservation can achieve when people invest in it.
Why You Should Act Now
- Limited Opportunity: Only 17 rhinos are available for naming. Once named, they carry that identity permanently.
- Urgent Needs: With just 48 rhinos in Uganda, every calf matters. Immediate funding ensures their safety and growth.
- High-Level Support: With government, communities, and international partners aligned, your contribution will have maximum impact.
- Global Recognition: As the inaugural event, this ceremony will attract international media. Early participants gain recognition as founding supporters.
Packages and Participation Tiers
To make participation accessible yet impactful, the campaign offers structured tiers:
- Individual Legacy Package – For individuals and families. Includes rhino naming rights, personalized updates, and a certificate of guardianship.
- Corporate Sponsorship Package – For companies seeking brand visibility. Includes naming rights, media mentions, logo placement at the ceremony, and long-term branding at Ziwa.
- Platinum Conservation Partner – For philanthropists and institutions. Includes naming rights, VIP participation at the ceremony, feature stories in campaign media, and strategic partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Each package comes with recognition, visibility, and long-term association with Uganda’s rhino conservation story.
Community Impact: Your Name, Their Future
When you name a rhino, you are not only protecting the animal but also uplifting communities:
- Employment: Rangers, guides, and staff benefit directly from sanctuary funding.
- Education: Community schools and awareness programs are supported.
- Enterprise: Tourism growth stimulates local businesses, from crafts to hospitality.
This shared benefit ensures communities see rhinos not as competitors for land, but as valuable neighbors worth protecting.
Looking Ahead: From Ziwa to Ajai
A core vision of the campaign is to translocate rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in northwestern Uganda. Historically home to large rhino populations, Ajai offers ecological diversity and range security. Translocation reduces the risks of keeping all rhinos in one location and restores balance to Uganda’s ecosystems.
By participating now, you fund the research, infrastructure, and security required to make this bold step possible.
Conclusion: Name a Rhino, Leave a Legacy
The Rhino Naming Ceremony at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is not simply an event. It is a transactional opportunity — an investment in wildlife, in communities, in Uganda’s heritage, and in your own legacy.
By naming a rhino, you:
- Secure a future for Uganda’s rhinos.
- Attach your identity or brand to a historic conservation movement.
- Join a global network of guardians determined to save Africa’s most iconic wildlife.
Act today. The calves are waiting, the names are limited, and history is about to be written.
To participate, contact the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and reserve your naming slot. Be part of the story. Name a rhino. Leave a legacy.
