The Uganda wildlife centre (UWEC) is stuck with a whooping US$ 1562500 million which it cannot put into use to develop the centre. While appearing before the parliamentary Sessional common tourism, trade and industry to review their performance over the past year 2007, UWEC’s management said that because of its quasi status as a government‘s approval.
Dr . Richard Okwir , a member UWEC board of Director committee told members of parliament that though they wish to partner with some other companies to use the funds to develop the centre, this is not possible as they are just a government trustee.

He said the money accumulated from proceed of the shares they have in the new vision , standbic and NSSF, generates over USD$ 125,000(USH 200 millions) each year.

Transformed in 1994 from the then Entebbe Zoo opened in 1952, UWEC is used as Uganda’s conservation and education centre for both the flora and fauna species especially those that face extinction. However, the paradox of the theme is that though the centre has all these funds stored away in the banks, it is complaining of gross under funding by government especially its development budget.

He added that was it not for Volunteers who highly subsidize their running costs, it would be an up –hill task for them to operate normally . He said that because of this, they are curtailed from doing out reaches to educate Ugandans about wildlife Conservation issues.

He added that were these out reaches carried out , encroachments of gazettes like national parks, wetlands and depletion of some plants etc would be minimal.

The legislators promised to support the BODS bid to become an independent body.

Mr Angino Gutumoi said that UWEC’s Status has risen as this would give it more opportunities. He added that they are prepared to support the bid so that UWEC can fully exploit its potential.

He said that UWEC’s Casual relationship with the government would not take them far so It would better set off for it is improper for UWEC to keep begging yet they can stand on their own..

As a government trustee, UWEC has no legal mandate to make it’s own decisions with government’s approval.

BY Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Safari News