Gov’t lines up lead up activities to World Wildlife Day
Frank Semata 
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.
Government has announced that Uganda will join this year’s celebrations which will be held in Tororo District under the theme, “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation”.
The chief guest for this auspicious event is expected to be the President of Uganda, HE Yoweri Museveni.
The Ministry reports that there has been general increase in wildlife population, for instance; between 1983 and 2021, buffalos have increased from 25,000 to 44,163, Elephants from 2000 to 7,975 and Giraffes from 350 to 2,072. Similarly, Mountain Gorillas have increased from 320 to 459 between 1999 and 2022.
Hon. Tom Butime, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities says a number of activities have been organized to celebrate the day as follows.
- Conservation Conference on “Advances in Wildlife and Environment Management in Uganda: Elucidating knowledge contribution of Sciences Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM field actors in the sector on 9th February 2023.
- Primates of Uganda Exhibitions to be launched at Uganda Museum on 23rd February 2023.
- Cranes Festival on 27th February 2023 in Sembabule district.
- Wildlife Conservation competition:
(a) Tertiary institutions on 20th February 2023;
(b) Primary Schools on 1st March 2023; and
(c) Secondary Schools on 2nd March 2023.
- Public Talk on Wildlife Conservation 2nd March 2023 at Uganda Museum.
- National World Wildlife Day Celebrations, Conservation Awards and Exhibitions on 3rd March 2023.
