UWEC Justifies Shs10Bn Budget for Lion Breeding

The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Centre (UWEC) has defended its proposal to spend Shs10Bn on the breeding of lions.

David Musingo, Head of the Lion Recovery Programme at UWEC, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), defended UWEC’s decision.

This is after the centre faced backlash from the public over the amount of money proposed. However, David Musingo says the public misunderstood their strategy. He said the money would also be spent on policing the cubs and sensitizing the communities around the national parks on the dangers of poaching lions.

According to Musingo, the population of lions has been negatively impacted by poaching, among other things. UWEC blamed residents around conservation centers for this predicament. These residents snare other animals like kobs and antelopes, but the lions end up falling victim to the traps.

UWEC also acknowledged a recent disease outbreak that occurred in Kidepo, which claimed many lions.

“But also, what is challenging Kidepo National Park is that it is neighbouring countries like South Sudan. So, when these animals cross to neighbouring countries like South Sudan where there is no order, they are killed.” Musingo said.

UWEC responds to low Rhino population

The UWEC officials also responded to COSASE Chairperson Medard Lubega’s concerns about the population of rhinos.

“You have two rhinos, so you must protect them 24 hours. Do they produce or are they barren?” asked Sseggona.

In his response, James Musinguzi, Executive Director of UWEC, blamed this challenge on the environment they are being raised in. Musinguzi says this has forced them to look at each other as siblings.

However, the MPs didn’t buy this explanation. They challenged them to explain the difference in population levels between UWEC and Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch. Despite being a private facility, the ranch has a bigger population than the zoo in Entebbe, yet rhinos live in similar environments.

“They haven’t reproduced because once they are in captivity, they tend to see each other as brother and sister. But now, we are working on a project where we want to introduce competition. So we want to bring in either a male or a female, so we create some competition, so that they can produce.” said Musinguzi.