By Micah Sali.
The National Forest Authority (NFA)has handed over 15 hectares of land at the Mbale Central Forest reserve to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) to develop the first regional satellite center in Eastern Uganda.
Speaking to the I.P. on Wednesday, May 22 2024 at Mutoto in Mbale city in Uganda the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Education Center Dr James Musinguzi said that the center will be used to educate the local people on the need for wildlife conservation and development of eco tourism in the region.
The zoo will be used to promote conservation through Inzu ya Masaaba cultural system and create job opportunities for youths in the Eastern region of Uganda.
The project which will commence with the construction of a perimeter wall fence,offices and education center is expected to begin in July this year .
“We will work in partnerships with local authorities,local communities, Inzu ya Masaaba Cultural kingdom to promote cultural tourism,promote the economy,conserve the environment and reduce the effects of climate change,”he added.
The Uganda government which is focused on encouraging citizens to invest in aquarium and Zoos will equip the Mbale zoo with lions and the white and black Columbus monkeys which are almost extinct due to the high demand for the animals during circumcision ceremonies of the Bamasaaba people living around Mt Elgon area.
Dr Musunguzi called on the local populace to use individual capabilities to conserve the environment adding that school going children should plant trees while celebrating their birth days .
“Children should grow trees at birthday parties ,”he added.
Mbale Industrial division MP Karim Masaaba who is the shadow minister for Tourism and wildlife called on the National Forest Authority to reclaim back grabbed public land and use it for conservation purposes.
He hailed the initiative to establish a Zoo at Mbale saying that its noble and timely.
Masaaba emphasized that the establishment of the Zoo will create job opportunities for the local communities and improve the economy of the region.
Inzu ya Masaba Deputy Prime Minister Damian Wamimbi said that the cultural institution will mobilize the local communities to embark on protecting wildlife and the environment.
“Its regrettable to realize that a 22 year old man hailing from this region right now cannot differentiate between a monkey and a baboon and yet this animals were part of our habitat,”.
The Ambassador of Umukuuka Phillip Wanyonyi Wekesa who represented Inzu ya Masaaba Kenya chapter at the occasion affirmed that the cultural institution will ensure the conservation programs are sustained in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya and all regions inhabited by the Bamasaaba.
The national director of the National Forest Authority, Tom Okello called on youths to support the NFA to restore the 506 gazetted forest reserves.
“We give licences to people to own forests but not the land. Young people can own forests but not the land ,conserve them and use them commercially in future,” said Mr Okello.
Other leaders who attended the handing over of the land by the National Forest Authority to the Uganda Wildlife Education center were the Mbale Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Rex Aachilla,Inzu ya Masaaba cabinet members and local leaders among others.
