Roosevelt Rhino Campaign bridging Uganda–US relations through conservation

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A week before Christmas, Uganda’s conservation diplomacy took a decisive step onto the global stage. On December 18, 2025, the Roosevelt Rhino Campaign was officially launched in the United States, unveiling an ambitious initiative that blends wildlife conservation, shared history and international partnership to strengthen relations between Uganda and the US.

The launch marked a key outcome of the US-Africa Business Connect: Roosevelt Africa Trail Summit, hosted earlier in December at the historic Explorers Club in Manhattan. The campaign unveiling itself took place as a hybrid event at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations in New York, drawing together policymakers, conservationists, academics, cultural institutions and private sector leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.

Moderated by Uganda’s Minister Counsellor to the UN, Celia Nabeta, the event reflected a growing global recognition that conservation is no longer solely an environmental concern. Increasingly, it is a platform for diplomacy, education, heritage preservation and sustainable development. Participants joined in both in-person and virtual formats, reinforcing the campaign’s global outlook and collaborative ethos.

At the heart of the Roosevelt Rhino Campaign is the legacy of the 1909–1910 Smithsonian–Roosevelt African Expedition, led by the father of the African Safari, former United States President Theodore Roosevelt. During that landmark expedition, scientific specimens collected from Ajai Reserve in Northern Uganda were deposited at the Smithsonian Institution. More than a century later, those collections continue to inform modern conservation science, habitat restoration and adaptive wildlife management practices.

By revisiting this shared scientific and historical heritage, the campaign positions Uganda not merely as a custodian of biodiversity but as a long-standing contributor to global knowledge systems. Ajai Wildlife Reserve, once home to Uganda’s rhino population, has emerged as a focal point of this renewed narrative, linking historical discovery with contemporary efforts to restore one of the country’s most iconic species.

The campaign reframes Roosevelt’s African journey from a historical safari into a foundation for modern conservation partnerships, drawing lessons from the past to shape future cooperation between Uganda and the United States.

One of the most symbolic moments of the launch came through a live link from Uganda. From Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Executive Director James Musinguzi formally identified a three-year-old rhino cub as “Roosevelt.” The cub, born as part of Uganda’s carefully managed rhino breeding program, represents both ecological recovery and the deepening of Uganda–US conservation ties.

Come October 2026, and the rhino will be officially named and christened in a ceremony that will coincide with key milestones in Uganda’s rhino rewilding program at Ajai Wildlife Reserve. For conservationists, the moment underscored how far the country has come since rhinos were wiped out in the wild in the early 1980s due to poaching and conflict.

“Rhino conservation is not a short-term project. It requires patience, science, community support and international goodwill. Initiatives such as the Roosevelt Rhino Campaign help strengthen global understanding and support for wildlife recovery efforts in Uganda,” Musinguzi said during the launch.

The launch convened a broad coalition of partners, including the American Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Uganda, representatives of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the Theodore Roosevelt Centre. Conservation leaders from UWA were joined by academics from institutions such as Muni University, alongside local government stakeholders from Madi Okollo District, where Ajai Wildlife Reserve is located.

In a virtual address, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, reaffirmed the government’s full support for the initiative, describing it as a model of modern conservation diplomacy.

“The Roosevelt Rhino Campaign is a strategic platform advancing conservation diplomacy, heritage preservation and sustainable development. It demonstrates how shared history can be transformed into shared responsibility for the future,” Ambassador Ayebare said.

His remarks were echoed by Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Godfrey Kwoba, who emphasised the importance of coordinated, multi-stakeholder engagement in achieving lasting conservation outcomes.

“The Government of Uganda remains committed to strengthening international partnerships that advance wildlife conservation, cultural heritage and inclusive growth,” Kwoba noted, adding that initiatives such as the Roosevelt Rhino Campaign align with Uganda’s broader development and tourism objectives.

Beyond diplomacy and science, the campaign places strong emphasis on education and public engagement. A core pillar is the Roosevelt Encounters Africa children’s book series, led by A Rhino Named Roosevelt, developed in partnership with NABU. Through storytelling, illustration and accessible language, the series introduces young readers to conservation values, African heritage and the importance of protecting endangered species.

By targeting children and families, the initiative seeks to nurture a new generation of conservation advocates while promoting heritage tourism along the historic Roosevelt Africa Trail - a route connecting landscapes and cultural sites associated with Roosevelt’s journey through East Africa.

The campaign’s ambitions are equally practical. Through global engagements linked to the Roosevelt Africa Trail, organisers aim to mobilise $5 million under UWA’s Name a Rhino Initiative. The funds will support sustainable rhino rewilding, habitat restoration and community-based socio-economic development around conservation areas.

For communities near Ajai Wildlife Reserve and other conservation sites, the campaign promises tangible benefits, including livelihoods linked to eco-tourism, education and conservation services. For Uganda, it reinforces the country’s positioning as a serious conservation partner and a destination where wildlife protection, history and development intersect.

Retracing Roosevelt’s footsteps

Speaking earlier at the Uganda–Kenya Coast Expo at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Professor Earle Jon shared his excitement about the potential of retracing Roosevelt’s footsteps to boost tourism in the region.

“Theodore Roosevelt hunted thousands of wildlife species to prevent their extinction, including the bison, without preserving their replicas. On display at the Roosevelt Library will be some of the 5,000 animal skins and 5,000 plant specimens - many of which are now on the brink of extinction, such as the white rhino, which was only recently reintroduced to Uganda,” Prof. Jon explained.

He noted that beyond population growth, climate change and environmental pressures are dramatically altering the Africa Roosevelt once knew.

“After being impressed by Buganda, Roosevelt travelled through West Nile on his way to South Sudan and Egypt, collecting specimens in a region that was then teeming with mammals, reptiles and birds. The Roosevelt Presidential Library, scheduled to officially open on July 26, 2026, is a $333 million project that reflects his deep connection with nature in this part of the world,” Jon said.

Participants were also informed that Roosevelt’s journey through Buganda and West Nile influenced not only his views on Africa, but also his evolving perspective on African Americans—an outlook that would later shape social debates in the United States.

Dr Imran Ejotre, a senior lecturer in biology at Muni University, highlighted the importance of the Roosevelt Library for the university’s research centre dedicated to Indigenous knowledge and historical ecology.

“We are excited about the wealth of information we will gain from the 296 animals Roosevelt hunted and the 216 killed by his son Kermit. Beyond iconic species like the white rhino, many lesser-known species will provide insights into the history of our region before urbanisation, colonialism and missionary expansion,” Dr Ejotre said.

Uganda’s evolving tourism landscape

The renewed attention to Roosevelt’s African legacy comes at a time when the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), working closely with the private sector, is focused on developing new tourism products to complement the country’s established attractions - ranging from national parks and gorilla tracking to birding and cultural tourism.

Uganda remains a destination where nature and heritage converge. Tourism has become a key driver of development alongside sectors such as agriculture, minerals and ICT. As Uganda rebuilds its rhino population and expands conservation-led tourism, the Roosevelt Rhino Campaign stands as a reminder that diplomacy can take many forms.

Sometimes, it begins with a shared story, a living symbol in the wild, and a commitment - across borders and generations - to protect what matters most.