Vice President Jessica Alupo on Friday launched the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre in Mbale City in a move aimed at boosting tourism and trade in the Eastern Region and increasing tourist visits to eastern Uganda.
While addressing leaders and other stakeholders, Ms Alupo said the facility is a calculated move by government to anchor tourism as one of four sectors to drive Uganda’s GDP to $500 billion.
‘Today’s occasion marks an important milestone in Uganda’s conservation and tourism development journey,’ she said.
She added that for decades, wildlife education had been centered at Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre.
‘For decades, wildlife education was centered at Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre. Distance and cost have limited access for many Ugandans, particularly school-going children,’ Ms Alupo said.
She said the establishment of the Mbale centre represents a deliberate effort to decentralise conservation education and urged leaders to mobilise children from Kenya and across Eastern Uganda to visit.
Minister of State for Tourism Suzan Nakawuki called the launch ‘a milestone’ and said tourism is key under government’s tenfold growth strategy. ‘Tourism creates jobs, generates foreign exchange, and supports local enterprises,’ she said, adding that tourism depends on conservation.
UWA Executive Director Dr James Musinguzi said the centre is part of a plan to decongest Entebbe Zoo and regionalise conservation education.
‘This is the first of its kind since 1952, when Entebbe Zoo was formed. When people get closer to these animals, they get connected. Through that, they act to protect these animals,’ he said.
He added that the centre is already creating jobs. ‘Farmers will supply food from their gardens, and that resonates with putting people in the money economy.’ He said Gulu and Kyenjo centres are next.
UWA Board of Trustees Chairperson Prof. James Kalema underscored the critical role of conservation education in safeguarding Uganda’s natural heritage.
‘Conservation took another step closer to the people. The new centre will serve as a bridge between communities and conservation efforts by promoting environmental awareness, strengthening public engagement, and encouraging greater participation in protecting the country’s rich biodiversity,’ he said.
Mbale City Woman MP and State Minister for Public Service Lydia Wanyoto asked government to establish more skilling centres in Bugisu to curb high youth unemployment and provide low-cost housing around the industrial park.
She also said leaders now want an airstrip to ease movement and boost tourism.
‘We want to improve the city infrastructure. We want the government to boost us with an airstrip that is going to ease movement within the regional districts, to the international borders and also boost tourism,’ Ms Wanyoto said.
The zoo is located along the Mbale-Tororo road on part of the NFA forest reserves. According to UWA, their agreement with NFA gave them 62 acres of land but they have only utilised 37 acres.
The centre is expected to boost tourism earnings from the region, which has been posting about Shs10 million annually, compared to Bwindi and Murchison Falls areas that earn a billion shillings.