Many people have been wondering why the Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC) has painted Entebbe Highway with sculptures from Entebbe International Airport to Kampala. Below are the reasons why Entebbe Highway is painted with sculptures.
This is because one is in position to see the animals physically in the form of the sculptures. It’s one of the strategies to market our tourism in Uganda. For instance, a person who has no idea of seeing a leopard can be influenced. Placing sculptures on Highway is hoped to increase visitation in national game parks hence accelerating domestic tourism.
‘Sculptures influence travel because they are good representation according to the art for actual animals though in sculpture form which someone would wish to see in the wild.
To make the sculpture acceptable, UWEC is educating people by equipping them with the necessary knowledge to be able to live with those animals harmoniously. God created animals and as human beings we need to superintend over them but unfortunately some human beings have gone ahead to kill them, poach them in addition to destroying their wetlands. At least every three months UWEC is called to rescue snakes in the wetlands.
The education conservation center has managed to rescue snakes under people’s beds calling them witchcrafts yet they invaded their habitat. In order to be able to influence attitude change and behavior change wild animals must be brought closer to the people through education.
According to Dr. James Musinguzi, UWEC plans to start up a snake conservation program which helps us demystify those fears of what one can do in the event of being bitten by a snake. It’s important to bring out those issues clearly so that we can co-exist with those animals in communities where we live.
“The sculpture is part of the conservation program in place and also a marketing strategy to teach people how to co-exist with animals in the same eco-system in which we live. UWEC urges people to learn how to live and stay with those animals in our communities because some keep around our compounds.’
On Entebbe Botanical Gardens Dr. Musinguzi said:
“It was handed over by the Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja to the Ministry of Tourism wildlife and Antiquities to be managed by Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC). UWEC plans to introduce tourism services but Agricultural research or botanical research will continue alongside tourism. Nobody will be allowed to cut down trees but we are going to plant more trees in order to enhance that ecosystem.
“We are going to improve the gardens and we have put in place dustbins to manage waste management, deployed security to address insecurity and we are going to work with National Agriculture Research Organization to promote botanical research and we work with researchers to demarcate research areas where the public will be restricted to access so as to enable researchers carry out research experiments without any interruptions. Therefore, there will be co-existence between tourism and botanical research and we shall work in partnership.
“We also plan to install CCTV cameras, introduce tour trains and trucks, promote birding, and we are building a jet so that there is a boat to carry tourists from UWEC to Botanical gardens. We are going to promote eco system approach and appreciation, promote tree tourism to attract families that would wish to enjoy tree shade.
“We shall promote flora research and tourism for instance in countries like Thailand and Singapore people make money from forests and carbon research. I believe we can sell carbon if we maintain those trees. And it’s untrue that the garden is going to be divided into plots for sale. This is absolutely nonsense. Currently we have no plans to build their hotels but shall encourage the existing tenants to modify the existing restaurants.’
Dr. Musinguzi noted that:
“Cabinet sat down and, in its wisdom, decided to merge Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre with Uganda Wildlife Authority. I follow what the cabinet has decided on and we are ready to support the merger and very willing to go with what they tell us to do.’
“We strongly support the merger in the government’s view to reduce expenditure, eliminate duplication of services and we will welcome this decision. The merger has been going on for the last 3years. We have built a strong team that is passionate about their work and we support the merger in its entirety.’
Dr. James Musinguzi revealed that Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre is currently working on constructing four satellite centres in the country.
“We have started with constructing a satellite centre in Mbale district and the government has already given us money to do the job. In this financial year, we expect more money to construct a satellite centre in Mbarara district and I believe we are on course.
“The National Forestry Authority (NFA) gave us 60 acres of land in each of the four districts of Mbale, Mbarara, Kyenjojo and Gulu to build modern satellite centres. We shall begin with construction of a satellite centre in Mbale, Mbarara will follow, Kyenjojo and then Gulu.’
