How Sudhir Ruparelia Sparked Uganda’s Rhino Comeback: From Extinction To 48 Thriving Giants

By Frank Kamuntu

When Uganda welcomed two Southern White Rhinos to the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) in 2001, it symbolised a turning point in the country’s conservation history.

Central to that milestone was billionaire businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, whose sponsorship and naming of Kabira, one of the returnee rhinos, gave Uganda its first concrete step towards bringing back a species once declared extinct within its borders.

Kabira, a female Rhino, was named after Sudhir’s flagship establishment, Kabira Country Club, while her male counterpart, Sherino, carried the name of Kampala Sheraton Hotel, another of the sponsors. Their relocation from Kenya was spearheaded by Rhino Fund Uganda, which sought to rebuild public awareness and lay the foundation for reintroducing rhinos into Uganda’s protected areas.

By the early 1980s, both the Eastern Black Rhino and Northern White Rhino, once common in Uganda’s savannahs, had been completely wiped out by poaching and civil strife. Their disappearance left a gaping hole in the country’s biodiversity and conservation pride.

Against this backdrop, Sudhir’s intervention was more than philanthropy; it was a statement that private sector leadership could drive national heritage revival. The arrival of Sherino and Kabira at UWEC marked the rebirth of Uganda’s rhino story, helping to educate communities, build conservation capacity, and inspire public ownership of the cause.

Sudhir’s commitment placed Ugandan business at the heart of a conservation struggle previously left to foreign donors and government programmes.

That legacy laid the foundation for the creation of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in 2005, where an initial population of six Southern White Rhinos has now grown to nearly 50 individuals.

DailyExpress understands that plans are underway to reintroduce rhinos to larger landscapes, including Ajai Wildlife Reserve, signalling a future where rhinos once again roam Uganda’s wild.

Sudhir’s sponsorship of Kabira ensured that Uganda’s first rhino return would not be forgotten. Today, Kabira and Sherino remain enduring symbols of hope, a reminder that the country’s conservation revival was sparked by the vision and generosity of a man who believed Uganda’s lost heritage could be restored.

Today, Uganda boasts 48 rhinos, of which 46 live at Ziwa Sanctuary. For the first time in decades, rhinos are not only surviving but thriving in Uganda. And now, with calves and juveniles born in recent years, a new chapter is ready to be written — one that involves you.