Rhinos are set to make a historic return to Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Uganda’s most remote and spectacular protected areas, marking a major milestone in the country’s wildlife conservation efforts.
In early March 2026, a newly completed 18.2 square kilometer fenced Rhino Sanctuary within the park was officially handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The development represents a key step in Uganda’s long term plan to rebuild rhino populations and restore the animals to landscapes where they once thrived.
The project is part of the country’s broader Uganda National Rhino Conservation and Management Strategy 2018–2028, which aims to establish viable rhino populations across multiple protected areas.
Rhinos Absent for More Than 40 Years
Black rhinos once roamed freely in Kidepo but disappeared from the park in the early 1980s due to heavy poaching and instability during that period. Their return will mark more than four decades since the species last lived in the park’s rugged savannahs.
The handover ceremony saw Vishal Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Rangelands Trust, present the project completion report to Charles Tumwesigye, Commissioner of Field Operations at the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The sanctuary’s construction was funded by Northern Rangelands Trust with support from several international conservation partners, including the Great Plains Foundation, Rhino Recovery Fund, Gatinais Foundation, WildLandscapes International, and the Uganda Conservation Foundation.
Additional support came from the European Union through the NaturAfrica Kidepo–Turkana Landscape Project.
Community Involvement Key to Success
Local communities have been deeply involved in the project from the beginning. Members of the Morungole Community Conservancy played an active role in constructing the sanctuary fence and continue to support conservation efforts across the wider landscape.
This community driven approach aims to ensure that wildlife conservation benefits nearby communities through employment opportunities, improved livelihoods, and stronger participation in protecting natural resources.
First Rhinos to Arrive Soon
The first animals expected to arrive in the sanctuary are southern white rhinos, which will be translocated from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda’s primary rhino breeding and monitoring center.
These initial introductions will help conservation teams build experience managing rhinos in Kidepo’s challenging terrain. Over time, authorities plan to introduce black rhinos, including both southern and eastern subspecies, as part of a phased restoration strategy.
Boost for Tourism and Conservation
Located in the remote Karamoja region near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park is widely known for its dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and relatively low tourist numbers compared to other East African parks.
The return of rhinos is expected to strengthen the park’s appeal as a safari destination while generating additional revenue for conservation and community programs.
The development also follows other recent milestones in Uganda’s rhino recovery program, including new translocations to Ajai Wildlife Reserve earlier in 2026.
Together, these efforts signal steady progress toward a future where rhinos once again roam across several protected areas in Uganda, restoring a species that was once nearly lost from the country’s wild landscapes.
