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Speaker Venasious Munanukye
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By Edson Kinene
MBARARA - The Finance and Production Committee of Mbarara District has resolved to visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) in Entebbe to explore the possibility of establishing a zoo in Bwizibwera Rutooma Town Council.
During a meeting chaired by Bishanga Julius, councilors unanimously agreed that creating a wildlife education center in Mbarara would significantly boost local revenue. As part of this initiative, the council approved the allocation of 49 hectares of land within any sub-county of the district to facilitate the project in partnership with UWEC.
Awaiting council approval
Bishanga noted that the committee's resolution will be presented for discussion at the next full council meeting. Mbarara District Speaker, Venance Munanukye, welcomed the proposal, expressing optimism that it would gain support if revenue generation remains the focus. He highlighted that the establishment of a zoo in Mbarara would provide a closer and more affordable option for students who currently travel long distances to Entebbe for wildlife education.
Revenue challenges and creative solutions
Mbarara District Chairperson, Tabaro Didas, emphasized the need for innovative revenue sources as the district prepares to shift its headquarters from Mbarara City to rural Mbarara. He expressed concern over the potential loss of over 300 million shillings annually, which is currently generated from the district office building in the city. Tabaro stressed that establishing a zoo is a strategic move to counteract these anticipated revenue losses.
Boosting tourism and employment
Local tourism stakeholders have lauded the councilors' initiative. Happa Tours Director, Kakuru Badru, urged the council to follow through on the benchmarking exercise and implement the project. He noted that a zoo in Mbarara would promote domestic tourism and provide an accessible alternative for visitors unable to explore national parks. "Tourism is the second-largest revenue-generating sector after minerals. With this zoo, Mbarara District will experience rapid development from the income generated," Kakuru said.
Kapimpina Morris, Managing Director of Canine Safaris, highlighted the potential employment opportunities the zoo would create, particularly for young tourism graduates. He noted that many students are forced to abandon careers in tourism due to the limited availability of attraction centers for employment.
"An education center within the zoo will not only create jobs but also inspire young people to remain in the tourism industry," Kapimpina added.
Next steps
The resolution will be deliberated upon at the full council meeting, where a final decision on the initiative will be made. If approved, the proposed zoo is expected to enhance Mbarara’s appeal as a regional tourism hub while providing educational and economic benefits to the community.
Torch Media Africa
