Entebbe Zoo received over 600,000 visitors in the previous financial year
When officials from Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) Entebbe appeared before MPs on the Parliamentary committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Tuesday to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2022/2023. James Musinguzi, the executive director of the UWEC, announced an increase in the facility’s visitor count from 400,000 in the financial year 2022/2023 to 600,000 in the just ended financial year 2023/2024.
Musinguzi informed the MPs that the Pan-African Zoo Association has ranked UWEC Entebbe as the best in East and Central Africa.
Musinguzi further noted that they have also started regionalizing the centre by establishing Wildlife Centers in Mbale, Gulu, Kyenjonjo and Mbarara so as to promote domestic tourism.
A significant discussion in the Committee was sparked by the problem of the two Rhinos at the center that have not multiplied.
COSASE chairperson, Medard Ssegoona noted that he has been going to UWEC in Entebbe but he doesn’t see the Rhinos increasing in numbers
Musinguzi responded, saying, “We are working on a project where we want to introduce competition amongst them. The challenge is that once they are in captivity, they see each other as brother and sister.” In order to bring in competition, he continued, “We are working with Ziwa Sanctuary to bring in a male or female.”
According to him, UWEC is also attempting to multiply the lions, which will then be dispersed to various national parks around the nation.
