
ENTEBBE, UGANDA — Uganda is celebrating a major conservation achievement this World Rhino Day: the country’s rhino population has risen to 48, thanks to efforts that began with the arrival of two southern white rhinos at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in 2001.
The pair — Kabira and Sherino — were donated by Kenya’s Solio Ranch and named after their sponsors, Kabira Country Club and Sheraton Hotel Kampala. Their introduction, supported by businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, marked the beginning of Uganda’s journey to restore a species wiped out by poaching in 1983.
Although Kabira and Sherino never bred due to their close genetic relationship, they became ambassadors for wildlife protection. Their presence at UWEC inspired nationwide awareness campaigns, strengthened anti-poaching initiatives, and spurred research that later guided reintroduction programs.
Building on this momentum, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was established in 2006 with an initial group of six rhinos. Today, that sanctuary is the heart of Uganda’s rhino revival. Earlier this year, rhinos were successfully relocated to Ajai Wildlife Reserve and Kidepo Valley National Park, marking the first return of the species to the wild in more than four decades.
Community involvement and sponsorship remain crucial to sustaining this progress. At a recent Rhino Naming Ceremony at Ziwa, 17 rhinos were named through contributions ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. The event forms part of an $11 million campaign to fund translocations, bolster anti-poaching units, and create local economic opportunities.
“Kabira and Sherino were our beginning — they showed the country what was possible,” said Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Now in their mid-20s, Kabira and Sherino still live at UWEC, serving as living reminders of how two animals helped ignite a nationwide commitment to conservation. Each new rhino calf and every step taken in Uganda’s wild reserves continues the legacy they began.