The Director of research, at the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory Dr Grace Nambatya, renowned for her contribution in promoting the use of traditional herbal medicines has won the 2021 Uganda National Heritage Awards. 

For about 20 years, Dr Nambatya has taught communities about the importance of traditional and indigenous medicine. She was also the main brain behind the Indigenous and Complementary Medicine Bill of 2015. 

L-R) Dr Grace Nambatya, Director, Research, Natural Chemotherapeutic Research Institute and Doreen Katusiime, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities display a dummy cheque in recognition of an outstanding contribution to preserving and promoting Uganda’s national cultural heritage during the 4th national cultural heritage awards recently at National Museum in Kampala as Lilly Ajarova,Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) looks on.

“In this pandemic, the law on Indigenous and Complementary Medicine was accented to, but this was a law in the offing for almost 20 years. It was passed in 2019 in parliament, but could not get through,” she disclosed. 

However, in the pandemic, the head of state-linked up and asked one question:  “Is there anything that could work like hydroxychloroquine?  Your Excellency there is,” was her response. 

“President Museveni speared headed the campaign effort to ensure that we add value to herbal medicines and come out with our own homegrown solutions to the coronavirus,” she said at the awards ceremony. 

Dr Nambatya is currently leading Uganda’s effort to find the first homegrown herbal medicine to treat the coronavirus disease. The drug which is made of natural materials is currently undergoing its first phase of trials. 

“The reluctance by most Ugandans to use herbal medicine in favour of Western medicine was due to a colonial residual mentality. The negative perception about herbal medicine in the past would have been the same,” said the ward organisers. 

But Dr. Nambatya has changed perceptions on the use of herbal medicine through her research and education. “Many Ugandans, especially those infected with chronic illnesses are turning to herbal medicine and supplements for relief due to her contribution,” the organizers said. 

Waalabyeki Magoba (second left) and his wife, display a dummy cheque given to them in recognition of the preservation of music and dance especially in Busoga and Busoga kingdom during the 4th national cultural heritage awards recently at the National Museum in Kampala

The cross-cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) awarded Dr Nambatya in the Intangible Cultural Heritage category during the 4th National Heritage Awards, 2021. 

The theme for this years’ award was: “Cultural heritage in crisis: Opportunities for collaboration and promotion. 

Others to be awarded in the Intangible Cultural Heritage category Were Haruna Walusimbi Nsibambi  for using his knowledge and skills to promote performing arts in the face of modernity were many cultural skills are being eroded, diluted or merged with other cultures making it increasingly difficult to preserve traditional ways of life and the meaning attached to them. 

Journalist Walabyeki Magoba was also recognized for authoring 86 books some of which document traditional values of the Kiganda culture and are used to teach children about their traditional values, beliefs, customs as well as history.