Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 8th edition of United Nations World Wildlife Day 2026 under the focus of the country’s rich biodiversity which goes beyond iconic wildlife to forests and ecosystems which are home to invaluable plant species that support healthcare, preserve cultural heritage, and sustain community livelihoods.
During the celebrations, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni highlighted that wildlife conservation is not only about animals, but also about plants that sustain ecosystems, support health systems, preserve cultural traditions and support the livelihoods of many Ugandans.
In a speech delivered by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the President said, “This year’s theme; ‘Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,’ challenges all of us to work together to embrace the conservation and protection of medicinal and aromatic plants for our own survival as humans.”
He explained that in the early 1990’s, the government conducted an assessment of important conservation sites and consequently created six national parks of Mgahinga, Bwindi, Kibale, Semliki, Rwenzori and Mt. Elgon aimed to enhance protection but also harness the immense social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits.
President Museveni also emphasised that in a bid to strengthen protection of conservation areas, the Cabinet recently approved the upgraded selected Wildlife Reserves and Central Forest Reserves to National Parks.
“Government will continue to identify and upgrade key wildlife conservation areas in fulfilment of the constitutional obligation envisaged under Article 237(2)(b) which compels the government to hold in trust for the people and protect, natural lakes, rivers, wetlands, forest reserves, game reserves, national parks and any land to be reserved for ecological and touristic purposes for the common good of all citizens.”
He further noted that as a result of the government conservation efforts, Uganda remains one of the top biodiverse regions in the World, with exceptional wildlife diversity, saying, “We are home to more than 50% of the World’s remaining population of mountain gorillas, several other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, fish, etc.”
The president revealed that the government targets to grow the economy from the current GDP of about US$ 50 billion to US$ 500 billion by the year 2040 and during this period, the Tourism Development Programme has been tasked to grow tourism foreign exchange earnings to US$ 50 billion.
He therefore encouraged Ugandans and conservation partners to continue supporting government conservation efforts for the benefit of all Ugandans because achieving the US$ 50 billion target will require concerted efforts to protect the country’s natural resources, diversify tourism products, attract more tourist and generate the much-needed revenue for the country.
Tom Butime, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities emphasized the importance of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) for both human health and well-being and ecological balance, saying, “These plants form the foundation of many traditional healthcare systems, contribute to modern medicine and support diverse industries ranging from cosmetics and food to agriculture and luxury goods.”
He added that for generations, humans have turned to nature for healing, nutrition and livelihoods whereby across the globe, approximately 50,000-70,000 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants species are harvested for their healing properties, cultural significance and economic value.
The Minister further highlighted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 70-95% of human populations in developing countries rely on traditional medicine for primary healthcare. Even today, more than two-thirds of the population relies on traditional medicine as a primary or complementary source of healthcare from the villages of Karamoja to the islands of Lake Victoria, medicinal plants are part of daily life, family knowledge, and community survival.
“Uganda is blessed with remarkable plant diversity. Species such as Prunus africana used in the treatment of prostate conditions; Warburgia ugandensis valued for respiratory and immune-related ailments; Mondia whitei known for its cultural and medicinal importance; Aloe vera widely used for skin and digestive health; and Artemisia annua increasingly recognised for its medicinal value, are found within our forests, farmlands, and protected areas,” he noted.
Butime further explained that the conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants directly supports Uganda’s broader development goals by strengthening primary healthcare hence contributing to poverty reduction, supports climate resilience, and opens new opportunities in herbal products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and wellness tourism.
“As we mark World Wildlife Day 2026, let us remember that our health is rooted in nature, our heritage is written in biodiversity, and our livelihoods are sustained by healthy ecosystems. By conserving medicinal and aromatic plants, we are investing in a healthier population, stronger communities, and a more resilient Uganda for today and the future generations,” he concluded.
According to Dr James Musinguzi, the UWA’s Executive Director, it was very important to create awareness about the value of conserving wildlife, both plants and animals, and the theme this year has been strategic targeting conservation of wild plants that have medicinal and aromatic value.
He further noted that there has been a challenge of unsustainable harvesting of these plants, and therefore they needed to inform the public about the value of conserving them so that Ugandans can be able to continue getting medicine to treat themselves at the local level, but also creating the source of the medicine that is going to be sold in the hospitals, in the clinics, because it is the indigenous medicine, or the indigenous plants with medicinal values, that eventually added the value to get the medicine that are being used in the hospitals.
“I therefore call upon all of you to join us in conserving wild animals and wild plants for us to be able to support the tourism industry, because at the moment, our tourism is largely nature-based and we depend on the wild animals and wild plants. So support us in conserving the wildlife so that together we can grow the economy of Uganda,” Dr Musinguzi said.
Christina Katushabe, the director of Change a Life Bwindi who led the Batwa community to the celebrations, was so honored to be part of this event, saying, “It has given our indigenous people, whom we have come with to showcase their medicinal plants, their medicinal trees, and also be able to demonstrate the way they are using these medicinal plants and trees to treat the diseases and also some of other problems they get around their homes and within their communities to be able to live a healthy life.”
She also appealed to the government and conservation stakeholders to prioritise profiling and documenting indigenous communities rich in traditional medicinal knowledge such as the Batwa community, saying, “There is a need to properly document and profile these communities because our knowledge is valuable not only to us but to the whole country.”
World Wildlife Day is commemorated every year on March 3rd to celebrate wild animals and plants and this year’s celebrations were held at Entebbe Works Grounds in Wakiso district. Each year, the Ministry of Tourism recognises the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet.
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