Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a collaborative effort between the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Uganda Rhino Fund.Ziwa Rhino sanctuary was established in 2005 with the goal of reintroducing the extinct rhinoceros population in Uganda, The long term goal of the sanctuary is to build a sustainable rhinoceros population and relocate rhinos back to their original habitat in Uganda's protected areas. Both the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), are endemic to Uganda.

However due to a number of factors, including prolonged armed human conflict, poaching and the mismanagement of their natural habitat, by 1982, both species had been wiped out in the country. As of January 2010, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only location in Uganda, where rhinos can be observed in their natural habitat. Starting with a total of six animals, four that were bought from Solio Ranch in Kenya and two donated from Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, in the United States, the rhino population had grown to ten, as of January 2011,and to twelve as of July 2012.And as today,th sanctuary has 10 rhinos with 6 adults,3 heifers and 1 calf. Obama was the first calf born at the sanctuary in 2009 from the American Rhino Nandi and Kenyan Taleo thus naming the Calf Obama.