International dancehall and reggae star Spice has named a Southern White Rhino after herself and donated approximately shs37 million (USD 10,000) to support Uganda’s national rhino conservation programme during a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
The visit, organised by the Uganda Tourism Board ahead of Spice’s maiden concert in Uganda scheduled for May 9 at Lugogo Cricket Oval, formed part of the artist’s week-long tourism and cultural experience in the country.
During the ceremony held in the sanctuary’s savannah grasslands, the Jamaican musician officially named the rhino “Spice Nankula Nile.” Sanctuary officials described the event as one of the most significant rhino naming ceremonies since Uganda’s World Rhino Day Naming Ceremony held in September 2025.
Speaking during the event, Spice said the experience had deeply moved her and strengthened her appreciation for wildlife conservation efforts in Uganda.
“Standing here, watching Spice Nankula Nile graze in the wild, I am at a loss for words. Back home in Jamaica, we fight for many causes, but these animals have no voice. Learning about Uganda’s efforts to bring rhinos back from the brink of extinction inspired me to contribute. This donation is my small part in a larger story. Nakimuli is now my responsibility, and through her, I’ll share Uganda’s story with the world,” she said.
The artist added that her visit to Uganda had become far more meaningful than a music performance.
“I came to Uganda for a concert and am leaving with a rhino, a clan name, and a piece of this country in my heart. Spice Nankula Nile will grow up here in this sanctuary, and one day roam a national park. Every year I perform, I will tell this story. Uganda gave me something no stage ever has,” she added.
Uganda’s rhino conservation journey has been regarded as one of Africa’s notable wildlife recovery stories. By 1983, both the black rhino and northern white rhino had been declared locally extinct in Uganda following years of civil conflict, poaching, and habitat destruction.
The recovery effort began in 2005 with the establishment of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary through a partnership between Rhino Fund Uganda and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Situated about 164 kilometres north of Kampala, the sanctuary spans approximately 70 square kilometres of protected savannah and woodland.
The sanctuary started with six Southern White Rhinos — four from Kenya’s Solio Ranch and two donated by Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the United States. Through sustained protection and breeding efforts, the rhino population has grown to 59, making Ziwa one of Africa’s leading rhino breeding programmes.
Earlier this year, the Uganda Wildlife Authority successfully carried out the country’s first rhino translocation exercise, moving rhinos from Ziwa to Ajai Wildlife Reserve after more than four decades of local extinction in the area. Additional rhinos have also been relocated to Kidepo Valley National Park as part of Uganda’s wider National Rhino Conservation Strategy.
The long-term conservation plan includes future reintroductions in Murchison Falls National Park as well as the eventual return of Eastern Black Rhinos.
The initiative is supported by the approximately shs41 billion (USD 11 million) “Name a Rhino” campaign launched in 2023 to finance habitat expansion, veterinary care, ranger welfare, and community conservation programmes.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, Juliana Kagwa, said Spice’s involvement had elevated Uganda’s conservation story to an international audience.
“Spice has done more than just write a cheque; she has given a name and personality to a symbol of Uganda’s conservation story. Each time she shares her rhino called Spice’s story, she highlights Uganda’s achievements and ongoing struggles, showing visitors that they are part of something bigger. This is the essence of effective cultural tourism, and UTB is proud to have brought her here,” Kagwa said.
According to sanctuary officials, Spice’s donation will support operational costs at Ziwa, including the ranger programme that deploys about 78 rangers and security personnel to guard the rhinos around the clock within the fenced sanctuary.
Representing the Uganda Wildlife Authority at the ceremony, Senior Warden James Okware said rhino conservation had become central to Uganda’s tourism and ecological restoration ambitions.
“Uganda is not just protecting rhinos. We are rebuilding an entire ecological and economic system around them. Ziwa is already a critical stopover on the route to Murchison Falls, completing Uganda’s Big Five offering. As rhinos move to Ajai, to Kidepo, and in time to Murchison, this country becomes one of only a handful of destinations on the continent where visitors can experience the full spectrum of African wildlife. Spice’s donation and the global attention she brings to Nakimuli will help fund that future,” he said.
Officials say the donation will also support Uganda’s long-term objective of establishing a stable rhino population across multiple protected areas to reduce the ecological risks associated with keeping the species concentrated in a single location.
