Tourists planning to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary will now have a sigh of relief after almost two months of premise closure to the general public due to land conflicts between Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and Ziwa Rhino Wildlife Ranch in Nakasongola district.
On Thursday last week, a team of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials led by the Executive Director Sam Mwanda reached an understanding with the Managing Director Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch (ZRWR) Capt. Charles Roy in a joint meeting with district leaders of Nakasongola led by the Vice District Chairperson Tingira Samuel as they reopened for access the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary once again to the general public for visits since closure on April 20, 2021.
After lengthy talks and final word reached, the two parties agreed to jointly work together in managing the Rhino breeding program as this will be done by Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches led by Captain Roy the owner of the land who will also be incharge of managing the infrastructure at the premise while Government through the Uganda Wildlife Authority will take the lead in monitoring the Rhinos and provide for their safety.
It should be recalled that on Tuesday April 20th, 2021, Uganda Wildlife Authority stepped in to protect Wild Rhinos through provision of tight security amidst deepening land rows which is in line with UWA’s mandate of protecting Wildlife resources in Uganda as per the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019. This was done to save the Rhinos from would be potential poachers who could take advantage of the land wrangles, and as a result, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) had to temporarily block members of the public from accessing the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola as Government worked on an amicable solution to the land clashes between Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranches (ZRWR) the owners of the land where the Rhinos are being bred and Rhino Fund Uganda an NGO that has been managing Rhinos at the Sanctuary.
The Rhinos stood proud among the big Five, the Leopard, Lion, Elephant and African Buffalo which are dangerous at prone to poaching. However given Uganda’s insurgency in the 1970s and 80s, these animals reduced due to rampant poaching which brought about their near extinction. Formed in 1997, Uganda Rhino Fund spearheaded the re-introduction in Uganda and in 2005 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was formed.
Located 180 Kilometres at Nakitoma in Nakasongola District, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is home to the only Wild Rhinos in Uganda as these total to 33 Rhinos with the latest addition that came in on 5th February 2021.
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