The management of Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre in Entebbe says it needs up to UGX15 billion to take care of animals and maintain scientists.
The Centre, which hosts 291 wild animals of 52 different species, has been hit hard by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown as 70% of their clients are students and the remaining are international tourists who have all been locked out.
While appearing today before the Parliament committee on National Economy which is scrutinising the effects of COVID-19 on businesses, James Musinguzi, the Executive Director of the Centre said they need funding to ensure that the animals are maintained well. He also says they need also funds to avoid laying off scientists and critical staff who work at the Centre.
According to Musinguzi , they need 8.2 billion for operations, and 6.6 billion for development in the 2020/2021 financial year.
Musinguzi said they recently appealed to Government following the effects of COVID-19 and Government availed them with 750 million shillings, but also a fundraiser they did got them 50 million shillings which has sustained them so far. He says since the closure, they have lost up to 3 billion shillings.
“And for the period since we closed in March up to June 30th the end of this financial year, we shall have lost UGX1.5 billion. 70% of the visitors who bring in the tax revenue are school groups to the centre whom we teach and take through conservation education in order to change their mindsets and attitudes towards conserving the environment but also promoting wildlife conservation and tourism. Even if the schools re-open, they will definitely be pre-occupied with finishing the school syllabus and therefore catching up on lost time. We also do not know when the air spaces will be open to start receiving visitors,” he said.
For animal food and health care, the Centre requires UGX1 billion, 2.7 billion for personnel expenses, UGX1 billion for development of standard operating procedures for the Zoo, and 700 million for outstanding payments to suppliers.
He also says they require 3 billion for satellite wildlife conservation Education center, UGX2.5 billion for a floating restaurant for sustainability, UGX650 million for construction of animal exhibits and UGX500 million for CCTV cameras.
Musinguzi says that they need this funding because even when the world reopens, students for instance will be preoccupied with school and have little time to visit the Centre.
