Wildlife Day celebrated with call to conserve habitats

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International Wildlife Day was celebrated in Lira city on Monday, highlighting the urgent need to protect Uganda’s natural habitats.

The celebrations began with a march through Lira town, led by tourism minister Col. (rtd) Tom Butime and tourism state minister Martin Mugarra, along with officials from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, and the Ministry of Tourism.

Dr Joshua Rukundo (2nd left) of Ngamba chimpanzee island using skulls to explain the close relationship between humans and chimpanzees, during the inspection of exhibition stalls by Dr Aceng who represented President Yoweri Museveni and accompanied by Minister Tom Butime among other UWA officials. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng, who also serves as the Lira City Woman Member of Parliament, represented President Yoweri Museveni at the event, emphasising the importance of conservation efforts for Uganda’s wildlife, which is vital to the country’s thriving tourism industry.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the President, Aceng noted that Uganda welcomed over 1.3 million international tourists in 2024, but stressed the need to fully harness the country’s potential for social, economic, and ecological benefits.

"We need to take advantage of our enormous potential to harness the social, economic and ecological benefits," remarked the President. He urged Ugandans to actively protect wildlife and its habitats, including wetlands, forests, open waters, and grasslands, and to avoid activities that threaten their preservation.

Dan Mirembe an animal caretaker at Entebbe zoo, using the animal fossils to explain to the chief guest and ministers the importance of conservation. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

“We need serious local community and private sector involvement as well as investment in this sector. Therefore, the government urges citizens to stop encroachment on wildlife conservation areas,” the President implored. “Avoid poaching, illegal wildlife trade and trafficking wildlife products. You should also avoid poisoning wildlife and embark on the use of sustainable farming practices that do not destroy wildlife ecosystems.”

Tourism minister Butime highlighted Uganda’s impressive biodiversity, noting that the country is home to more than 53% of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, 11% of the world’s recorded bird species, 8% of global mammal diversity, and a range of other species.

“Improved management of protected areas has led to a general increase in wildlife populations such as buffalos, which currently stand at 44,163, up from 25,000 in 1983,” Butime stated. “As of 2021, the elephant population increased to 7,975 from 2,000 in 1983, and giraffes to 2,072 from 350 in the same period.”

Minister Aceng who represented President Yoweri Museveni, awarding a certificate of appreciation to Fiona Awekonimungu on behalf of UTB for its role in promotion of sustainable tourism in Uganda. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

However, Butime also acknowledged the ongoing challenges in recovering populations of species such as lions and rhinos, which are still in decline. Last month, the Ministry of Tourism launched a national action plan for managing large carnivores, aimed at boosting their numbers in Uganda.

Echoing the President’s message, Butime reiterated the importance of engaging local communities in wildlife management, stressing that this approach will lead to a range of benefits, including improved livelihoods, ecotourism opportunities, and greater resilience to climate change.

“This will ensure abundant wildlife, improved livelihoods, ecotourism, resource access and use, coexistence between humans and wildlife, and enhanced community resilience to environmental shocks,” he said.

Front L-R; Martin Mugarra, the minister of state for tourism, Jane Ruth Aceng the area Woman Member of Parliament who also represented President Yoweri Museveni and Col Tom Butime the Minister of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities during the wildlife day celebrations in Lira city on Monday. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)

This year’s Wildlife Day was celebrated under the theme ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,’ emphasising the need for innovative and sustainable financing solutions to protect wildlife, support the economy, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.

Several activities preceded the official celebrations, including a wildlife quiz and debates among schools in Lira City and a wildlife marathon, with proceeds directed towards the families of fallen rangers.