Wildlife Day preparations launched with push for herbal and medicinal tourism as new revenue stream
"I call upon all Ugandans to join the celebrations on March 3, 2026, and to actively support the protection of these vital plant resources that sustain our biodiversity, culture, and community wellbeing," Minister Mugarra said.
Tourism state minister Martin Mugarra, who presided over the launch, called for widespread public participation.
KAMPALA - Uganda has officially launched the national preparations for World Wildlife Day 2026.
The February 5, 2026, launch at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala city marked the kickoff to the March 3 global observance under the UN theme: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.
This year's theme highlights the role of medicinal and aromatic plants in supporting human health, preserving cultural heritage, and sustaining livelihoods, while warning of threats such as overharvesting, habitat destruction, and illegal trade.
Tourism state minister Martin Mugarra, who presided over the launch, called for widespread public participation.
"I call upon all Ugandans to join the celebrations on March 3, 2026, and to actively support the protection of these vital plant resources that sustain our biodiversity, culture, and community wellbeing," he said.
During the launch, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) executive director Dr James Musinguzi announced that the authority is diversifying tourism products to align with the growing interest in medicinal and aromatic plants.
"UWA is diversifying tourism products, including botanical modern trails," he said, signalling that conservation sites will begin offering structured experiences around Uganda's medicinal plant heritage.
Uganda Tourism Board chief executive officer Juliana Kagwa said Uganda is deliberately expanding beyond traditional wildlife safaris toward more immersive, heritage-based experiences, positioning the country's exceptional biodiversity and equatorial advantages for emerging sectors like herbal and medicinal tourism.
Drawing a comparison to Thailand, which attracts millions of visitors annually through culture- and education-driven tourism models, Kagwa said, we can leverage our natural resources to create distinctive herbal and medicinal tourism experiences that offer authentic, sustainable value to visitors while generating economic benefits for local communities.