By David Isabirye
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens have a rich history that dates as far back as the founding year 1898.
The Gardens are a habitant of varying flora and fauna with over 480 birds and 500 trees species.
The center was founded for research (educational) and recreational purposes.
Over the years, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens have been managed by ministry of agriculture under the NARO docket.
On 8th May 2023, the president of the Republic of Uganda issued a directive of transfer for the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
Following several consultations and planning meetings, the presidential directive has been implemented by the Prime Minister of the Uganda Hon. Robinah Nabbanja.
The D-Day for the implementation procedure was executed on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 by Hon. Nabbanja during a special visit to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens and NARO secretariat.
Hon. Nabbanja also had a guided tour around the 40 hectares’ gardens as she appreciated the varying tree species, birds and the Lake Victoria shoreline.
She was accompanied by the minister of tourism, wildlife and antiquities Tom Butime, Entebe Municipality Mayor His Worship Fabrice Rulinda, officials from Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education center and Agriculture (NARO).
“We are here to handover the Entebbe Botanical Gardens from the Ministry of Agriculture to the ministry of Wildlife, Tourism and Antiquities. We expect good stock taking of the Gardens, develop a good and sustainable plan, transform the Gardens as part of the Lake Victoria tourism shoreline, transform the Gardens into a modern tourism destination, improve the security and facilities as the toilets, accommodation centers” Hon. Nabbanja stated.
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens has a wide range of trees that are used for medicinal purposes, food, shelter (recreation) and research.
Tourism minister Butime insists the that the Gardens will still play the research and tourism roles to perfection.
“We want to improve the Entebbe Botanical Gardens into a desired tourism center where research will still co-exist with conservation” Minister Butime revealed.
Entebbe Mayor Rulinda hinted on the relevance of the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, urging improvement in security.
“As we were growing up in Entebbe Municipality, the Botanical Gardens offered a safe haven for hosting picnics. We have so much confidence in UWEC who will now manage the Gardens. We are not here to fight progress but development. We are partners in progress” His Worship Rulinda stated.
Action plan:
According to Dr James Musinguzi, the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center, the work to transform Entebbe Botanical Gardens takes immediate effect.
Fast forward, there will be deployment of the security personnel (Wildlife police and rangers) around the Gardens to improve the security status.
There will be other programs in the pipeline as construction of road trails, sanitary facilities, accommodation and recreational points as the bar.
