Medicinal plants face extinction amid weak regulation – minister
State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra Bahinduka
By skika reporter.
Uganda’s medicinal and aromatic plants are under growing threat from unsustainable harvesting, habitat loss, climate change and weak regulatory frameworks, raising fears that several important species could disappear if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the United Nations World Wildlife Day 2026, State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra Bahinduka said medicinal plants play a vital role in healthcare, cultural heritage and livelihoods for millions of Ugandans.
“Medicinal and aromatic plants represent far more than botanical specimens. They are the foundation of traditional healthcare systems, a source of ancestral knowledge and an economic lifeline for millions of rural communities,” Mr Mugarra said.
He noted that about 80 per cent of people in developing countries, including Uganda, rely on plant-based traditional medicine for primary healthcare. Globally, an estimated 60,000 plant species are used for medicinal, nutritional and aromatic purposes, with nearly 500,000 tonnes traded annually. However, close to 90 per cent of these plants are harvested from the wild, a practice that is rapidly degrading ecosystems and threatening long-term supply.
Despite their value, Mr Mugarra said medicinal and aromatic plants continue to face multiple pressures, including overexploitation, loss of habitats, declining traditional knowledge, weak regulation and poor monitoring.
He called for a shift towards sustainable cultivation, improved market access and fair benefit-sharing mechanisms to conserve plant resources while boosting rural incomes.
The minister also highlighted the central role women play in harvesting, processing and trading medicinal plants, urging targeted interventions to protect both the species and the communities that depend on them.
Uganda’s World Wildlife Day programme will include conservation competitions in schools and universities, a Cranes Festival in Masaka, a conservation conference in Kampala, a National Wildlife Marathon and the National Wildlife Conservation Awards.
Uganda Wildlife Authority Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said the National Wildlife Marathon aims to raise public awareness about conservation, with proceeds supporting education for children of rangers who died in the line of duty.
The main celebrations will be held in Entebbe Municipality on March 3, 2026, with President Museveni expected as chief guest. The activities are intended to promote conservation awareness and preserve traditional knowledge linked to medicinal plants.
Uganda hosts more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, about 11 per cent of global bird species and eight per cent of global mammal diversity, underscoring the importance of safeguarding its rich biodiversity for future generations.
