The Roosevelt Rhino Campaign was officially launched in the United States on December 18, 2025, in a move aimed at strengthening conservation diplomacy between Uganda and the US while advancing efforts to restore rhino populations in northern Uganda.
The launch followed the US–Africa Business Connect – Roosevelt Africa Trail Summit held earlier this month at the Explorers Club in Manhattan and was hosted as a hybrid event at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations in New York.
Moderated by Minister Counsellor Celia Nabeta, the event brought together representatives from government, conservation authorities, academia, cultural institutions and the private sector to explore how heritage, science and wildlife conservation can support long-term development partnerships.
The campaign is rooted in the legacy of the 1909–1910 Smithsonian–Roosevelt African Expedition and highlights how early scientific collections from Ajai in northern Uganda continue to inform modern conservation science, habitat restoration and adaptive wildlife management.
A key moment during the launch featured a live link from Uganda, where Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director James Musinguzi joined from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to formally identify a three-year-old rhino cub as “Roosevelt”. The cub is scheduled to be officially named and christened in October 2026, marking a milestone in Uganda’s rhino rewilding programme at Ajai Wildlife Reserve.
The launch brought together partners including the American Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Uganda, representatives of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Center, conservation leaders from UWA, academics from institutions such as Muni University, and local government leaders from Madi Okollo District.
In a virtual submission, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, reaffirmed government backing for the initiative, describing it as a strategic platform for international engagement.
“The Roosevelt Rhino Campaign is a strategic platform advancing conservation diplomacy, heritage preservation, and sustainable development,” Ayebare said.
President Theodore Roosevelt and a White Rhino
Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Godfrey Kwoba emphasised the need for coordinated action among stakeholders to achieve lasting conservation outcomes.
“The Government of Uganda remains committed to strengthening international partnerships that advance wildlife conservation, cultural heritage, and inclusive growth,” Kwoba said.
Musinguzi said Uganda’s progress in rhino conservation has been driven by sustained investment and institutional strength, supported by trusted partnerships at home and abroad.
“Initiatives such as the Roosevelt Rhino Campaign help strengthen international understanding and support for wildlife recovery,” he said.
A central component of the campaign is the Roosevelt Encounters Africa children’s book series, beginning with A Rhino Named Roosevelt, developed in partnership with NABU.
The initiative uses storytelling to promote conservation education, youth engagement and heritage tourism along the historic Roosevelt Africa Trail.
Through global engagements linked to the trail, the campaign aims to mobilise $5 million under UWA’s Name a Rhino Initiative, supporting sustainable rhino rewilding while promoting conservation diplomacy, heritage tourism and community-based socio-economic development.
A Rhino Named Roosevelt part of a book series
The story is written by: Amon Katungulu
