Dr. Grace Kyeyune Nambatya - Champion of Scientifically validated Natural Therapies

Background & Personal Life

Dr. Grace Kyeyune Nambatya is a resident of Ssisa, Wakiso District, Entebbe Road, known for her passion and positive-minded approach to life. She attributes her robust health to her positive mindset and her dedication to helping those around her.

She is married with a supportive husband and children, contributing to a supportive family that shares a deep interest in herbal medicine, and they run a cottage industry at their home, priding themselves on a number of certified Natural Products for health management.

Herbal Products

Moringa Skin ointment

A skincare ointment formulated from a combination of olive oil, sunflower oil, and moringa oil, hardened with organic beeswax to create a rich ointment perfumed with carefully selected essential oils. This product is intended for nourishing and conditioning the skin.

Immunal Booster concentrate (dilute-to-taste)

This concentrate is formulated as a dilute-to-taste juice, with sugar cane juice as the base, fortified with hibiscus, beetroot, and Plectranthus Cyaneus (Kibwankulata: Ganda) extracts. It has been widely embraced by families, and testimonies highlight its energy-boosting and immunity-supporting benefits.

MAXCOOL Sugarcane with Tamarindus juice

This ready-to-drink sugar cane juice is fortified with tamarind, a vitamin C-rich fruit. Tamarind is high in calories, minerals like calcium and magnesium, and is a rich source of antioxidants with various health benefits.

Her Vision for Herbal Medicine in Uganda

Dr. Nambatya is dedicated to elevating the status of herbal medicine in Uganda by:

• Promoting research and collaborations with the private sector to bring herbal products to market.
• Advocating for sustainable policies to support Traditional and Complementary medicine.
• Engaging in stakeholder mapping to ensure the involvement of all key players in the herbal medicine industry.
• Collaborating with NCRI to address the challenges of legalizing and standardizing herbal medicine.

Community Involvement & Personal Interests

Apart from her professional life, Dr. Nambatya is involved in various activities:

• Teaching: She offers services to tertiary institutions like Makerere University, sharing her vast knowledge of herbal medicine and validating Master’s and Ph.D. programs for graduation.
• Public Engagement: She enjoys sharing her insights as a guest speaker in Rotary and uses social media platforms such as her website, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X to reach a wider audience.
• Encouraging Herbal Growth: Dr. Nambatya actively encourages women in her community to plant herbs, emphasizing the importance of natural remedies for health.

Appreciation

Dr. Nambatya greatly appreciates the support of the Government of the Republic of Uganda, especially President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for his commitment to promoting research and development of Uganda's bioresources into local solutions for health challenges.

Challenges & Goals

Despite her successes, Dr. Nambatya faces certain challenges:

• Legal Framework Delays: Implementation of pertinent legal frameworks, such as the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act (2020), has been slow.
• Education Integration: Schools lack an integrated curriculum to raise awareness of the therapeutic potential of Uganda's rich biodiversity.

GOALS

• Policy and Education: Dr. Nambatya works towards regularizing herbal medicine practices to ensure Ugandans receive quality products. Her mission is to make herbal medicine a respected and accessible form of healthcare in Uganda.

In Her Own Words

“I rarely fall sick because I am a positive-minded person. Inside me is a feeling that I am supposed to look after people around me, and I live carefully.”

“Teaching people that herbs are important in protecting their lives has not been a simple task. But I am happy that today, confidence in herbal medicine has gone up by over 50%.”

Future Aspirations

Dr. Nambatya aims to advance herbal medicine both locally and globally. She plans to conduct more research in traditional healing practices, especially concerning women’s health and nutrition. She hopes to establish a well-equipped herbal laboratory in Uganda and advocate for increased collaboration between herbal practitioners and conventional medical practitioners.