NAKASONGOLA, Uganda — British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney underscored the United Kingdom’s commitment to Uganda’s conservation efforts at a rhino naming ceremony at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
The event celebrated the recovery of Uganda’s rhino population, which had been extinct in the wild since the 1980s. The population has now grown to 48 white rhinos. The ceremony included the symbolic naming of 17 juvenile rhinos.
“I am deeply impressed by Uganda’s conservation efforts that have brought rhinos back from local extinction to 48 today,” Chesney said. “This was a partnership between government, private sector and conservationists — it proves what is possible when nature is put first.”
Chesney praised the Uganda Wildlife Authority for its work and recognized the contribution of the Roy Family, who own the ranch that hosts the rhino breeding program. The Ziwa ranch, originally a cattle farm established in 1983, was transformed into a conservation and tourism project in the early 2000s after around 7,000 cattle were relocated. The Uganda Wildlife Authority acts as the custodian of the rhinos.
The UK’s support extends to other sectors, with the government backing the return of Uganda Airlines’ direct flights to London earlier this year. The flight from Entebbe International Airport to Gatwick International Airport is intended to deepen ties and facilitate trade, investment and tourism.
Since 1993, the UK has contributed approximately 20 million pounds to conservation and tourism in Uganda through initiatives like the DEFRA Darwin Initiative and the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund, as well as partnerships with the World Bank and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The United Kingdom remains a partner in supporting Uganda’s vision for sustainable economic growth, with a focus on tourism as a driver of prosperity. This aligns with the Government of Uganda’s priorities under the Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism, Minerals, and Science & Technology (ATMS) agenda.
By investing in tourism, the UK and Uganda are working together to create opportunities for trade, job creation and innovation that benefit local communities.
