Uganda has had a tradition natural medicine for centuries. There are more than 300 plants (trees, shrubs, flowers and weeds) growing wild across the country which are integral to health and well being of the Ugandan people. Some medicinal plants have gained value in the world of pharmaceuticals.
The medicinal plants are as seen below;
Moringa Olifera tree
This plant is known country wide because of its miracle tree. The tree from its roots can be used for nutrition and to treat particular illness and also it helps HIV/AIDs patients.
Neem tree
Neem tree has seeds that contain oil which is used as insect repellent, skin care product. The neem leaves are used as hair products, tooth paste and as shampoo.
Coffee leaves
Coffee leaves are used to treat stomach complications. The coffee trees are cultivated in the gardens for the purpose of getting coffee for sell but their leaves can be used as medicine.
Solanum incanum
This undershrub is found in drier areas. Known as Bitter Apple, there is a medicinal use for every part of this plant except the apple itself.
Vernonia Amygdalina
This is also known as bitter Leaf; this small sun-loving shrub from the asteraceae family grows up to 8 metres high and is found growing wild all the country
Aloe Vera
Growing wild in wooded and dry grassland, the Aloe Vera has many uses like it can be used for stomach.
It is used for treatment of asthma symptoms when smoked, because it contains atropine which acts as an antispasmodic in the lungs.
Cinchona tree
This is a medicinal plant that contains quinine which is a widely prescribed as treatment for malaria especially in rural areas.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
This plant contains a large number of pharmacologically active compounds and has been used for treatment for bile or liver problems.
Uganda Medicinal Growers limited
Uganda Medicinal Plant Growers, Ltd. (UMPG) is a project started and incubated under Project Diaspora as an example of Diaspora-led projects that can impact entire communities.
Project UMPG is a large commercial farming initiative based in Masindi, Uganda designed to transform over 1500 susbsistence farmers to commercial farmers. Project UMPG’s goal is to create markets for crops such as moringa, chili peppers, neem and aloe vera. In order to increase farmer daily earnings by broadening their market reach. Project Diaspora role involves crop selection, agricultural training, product development, supply chain management and international marketing.