UWEC unable to justify Shs10 Billion Budget for breeding 16 Lions.
During their appearance before the parliamentary tourism, trade, and industry committee, officials from the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) did not successfully defend the Shs 10 billion budget they requested for lion breeding in the next financial year.
UWEC was criticized by committee chair Mr. Mwiine Mpaka for failing to justify their budget item, despite it being included in the ministerial policy statement for the 2024–2025 fiscal year.
“We need to know how you arrived at the shs 10billion for lion breeding project. Otherwise, we are not going to defend on the floor of parliament something we dont understand,” Mr Mpaka emphasized.
He further stated that, “We need a breakdown of the shs 10 billion shillings requested, to know how much is going directly into lion breeding, buying of equipment and feeding of the lions, among others” .
Despite the explanation provided by Mr. David Musingo, the acting executive director of UWEC, that the funds would be utilized for activities such as feeding and releasing lions, fencing the breeding area, and genetics research, the committee members maintained that the requested amount of money remains excessive in comparison to the project’s anticipated financial results.
Mpaka questioned the UWEC officials “you want government to invest shs 10 billion to breed 16 lions a year, this cannot be justified and it doesnt make economic sense”.
The process of breeding the lions will cost roughly 1.6 billion, according to UWEC veterinary doctor Dr. James Watuwa. He also mentioned that other highly expensive activities like research and genetic analysis are involved in the breeding process.
Mr. Musingo the UWEC executive director says that if UWEC receives Shs 10 billion, the number of lions in the nation will rise by at least 16 by June 2025.
