The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butime, has announced that Uganda will join the rest of the world in commemorating the United Nations World Wildlife Day on March 3, 2023.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be the Chief Guest at Uganda’s national celebrations in Tororo District.
The theme, according to the Minister, focuses on all who work for Wildlife Conservation and make a difference for wild species, ecosystems, habitats, local communities, and their livelihoods.
During a press conference at the Media Center on Wednesday, he acknowledged that the increased integrity of protected areas as a result of political stability and associated sustainable security has been critical to the increase in wildlife population.
Between 1983 and 2021, the number of buffaloes increased from 25,000 to 44,163, elephants from 2000 to 7,975, and giraffes from 350 to 2,072.
“Similarly, the number of Mountain Gorillas increased from 320 to 459 between 1999 and 2022,” he added.
Hon Butime also revealed that the government has been able to successfully reintroduce Rhinos back to Uganda that had gone extinct in early 1980s adding that the initial population of 8 has successfully bred and multiplied to the current population of 32 individuals.
He indicated that the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities recognizes the importance of partnerships is addressing the current challenges of wildlife conservation and management.
“We aspire for greater synergies and collaboration with local communities, Non-governmental organizations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, academia, conservationists and state governments through regional and global framework treaties and conventions,” he added.
Uganda ranks among the top biodiversity rich countries globally.
It is host to 53.9% of the world’s remaining population of Mountain Gorillas, 11% of the world’s recorded species of birds (which is 50% of Africa’s bird species richness), 8% of the global mammal diversity (which is 39% of Africa’s mammal richness), 19% of Africa’s Amphibian species richness, 14% of Africa’s reptile species richness and 1,249 recorded species of butterflies.
On 20th December 2013, the sixty eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3rd March of every year as World Wildlife Day to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the several benefits that conservation provides to humanity.