Premier Nabbanja officially hands over Entebbe Botanical Gardens to UWEC

By Sadique Bamwita

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Robinah Nabanjja Musafiri, has officially handed over management of Entebbe Botanical gardens to Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC) to manage it on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities after years being under management of Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).

The handover ceremony follows a presidential directive directing the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries to transfer management of Entebbe Botanical Gardens to the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities. Premier Nabanjja has now given two weeks to management of Uganda Wildlife Education conservation Center (UWEC) and the National Agricultural Research Organization to fix everything in the Botanical gardens including enhancing security in the place, and constructing modern facilities that can attract more visitors.

Premier Nabanjja noted that the government is committed to conserving Biodiversity and tourism by creating an enabling environment that supports biodiversity conservation and growth of the tourism sector in the country.

“The current tourism numbers are so promising for instance Entebbe zoo will host 486,313 visitors in 2022, much higher than 398,398 in 2019. This is the highest number ever recorded for any tourism site in Uganda in a year.  

“Tourism directly employs a total of 1.5 million people in Uganda, and contributes 6.7% of the country’s Growth Domestic Product (GDP), “Premier Nabanjja disclosed.

Premier Nabanjja revealed that the government has developed a strategy that will see tourism foreign exchange earnings increase up to 5.19 USD by the year 2028 and also achieve the target of 12 billion USD in annual tourism foreign exchange earnings by the year 2040.

Premier Nabanjja added that the government is committed to developing new tourism products like Entebbe Botanical Gardens in addition to refurbishing Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education center with planned regional satellite centers in Mbale, Gulu, Kyenjojo and Mbarara. She says besides this, there are plans to construct a conventional center in Entebbe for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions among others as part of a tourism diversification drive. She asserts this move is in line with the government ‘s medium term planning strategy to give more funding to key growth sectors like tourism so as to tap the full potential of the sector and create jobs , reduce poverty and diversity livelihood opportunities.

She commended the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) for the pivotal role played in maintaining Entebbe Botanical Gardens as a viable research center saying it (gardens) was originally established to collect tree specimens, and information about their uses but now integrated the collection of plants with scientific Research, conservation education and demonstration.

Premier Nabanjja blamed the former management of Botanical gardens for failure to fix amenities like toilets, adequate security, signage, information boards, accommodation facilities and modern restaurants among others. She says inadequate security coupled with its isolation creates a haven for idlers, drug addicts and thieves who terrorize partiers and sometimes participate in criminal activities such as murder.

She further tasked Tourism to develop good and sustainable plans for the gardens, transform it into a modern tourism destination in the country as well as use it to promote research, conservation education and awareness on top of upgrading and enhancing the quality of services so as to attract more visitors who are longing for new tourism products. She also appealed to the new management to address rampant insecurity in the gardens and establish partnership both at local and international levels so as to place the gardens on the world map.

Nabanjja warned the the ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries against delaying to hand over the Botanical gardens to Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation center that will manage the facility on behalf of Tourism Ministry.

The Minister for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Rtd .Maj. Tom Butiime, assured the premier that his Ministry will manage the gardens properly and asked management of   Uganda Wildlife Education conservation center to work closely in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Organization to intensify research and tourism at Entebbe Botanical gardens.

‘I assure you, no one will destroy fauna and flora. The 40 hectares Entebbe Botanical gardens are breathtaking to visitors.  We shall ensure the garden is improved, especially the sanitary amenities. I implore management of Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center to improve on plants brought in and outside Uganda. Government will provide financial support to improve the gardens, and I’m sure agricultural research will continue, “Minister Butiime gave assurance.

The permanent in the Tourism Ministry, expressed optimism that handing over Entebbe Botanical gardens to Entebbe zoo will bring in new competence and ideas that will move the gardens forward.

“The Tourism Ministry will not lose sight of the research function but we shall work in partnership with the National Agricultural Organization to promote research on indigenous tree species and we shall use our competence to make Botanical gardens more attractive to visitors.

The Director Crop Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr. Steven  Byantwale Tibeijuka,  asked  management of Uganda Wildlife Education conservation center to maintain the gene bank for tree specimens in the gardens so as to achieve the vision of the president of promoting research and tourism in the country.

The Entebbe municipality mayor, Fabrice Brad Rulinda, said handing over Entebbe Botanical gardens to management of Entebbe zoo is a good step in the right direction and urged the Ministry of Tourism to promote research and tourism concurrently.

‘I agree with the premier that UWEC and NARO must co-exist in areas of research and tourism.  As council, we support any progress within the Municipality, “mayor Rulinda expressed pleasure.

The Director General National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Dr. Yonna Baguma, pledged that his agency will work together with Entebbe zoo in areas of research and tourism.

“Research can co-exist with tourism, and to achieve this, the two must be compatible. Therefore, the two entities must roll out a strategic plan to carry out the mutual implementation of the presidential directive, “Dr. Baguma noted.

The chairperson Board of Directors for the National Agricultural Research Organization(NARO), advised management of Uganda Wildlife conservation center to cooperate with his agency to turn Entebbe Botanical gardens into an admirable research and tourism center or site so as to attract more visitors locally and internationally.

The Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC), Dr. James Musinguzi, assured the general public that his agency will work in partnership with the Agriculture ministry and NARO to develop further Entebbe botanical gardens, and announced that with immediate more security personnel will be deployed in the gardens to address the issue of insecurity in the place. He however, dispelled social media rumors that the garden has been divided into plots for sale saying it’s impossible because it’s of high conservation significance.