UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE TRAVEL GUIDE

LOCATION OF UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE, UGANDA

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), also known as Entebbe Zoo, is located in Entebbe, Wakiso District, on the shores of Lake Victoria. The exact address is Plot 56/7 Lugard Avenue, Entebbe. It’s about 36 kilometers from Kampala and just a 15-minute drive from Entebbe International Airport.

SOME HISTORY OF UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE, UGANDA

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, popularly known as “Entebbe Zoo", was opened in 1952, by the Colonial Government in Uganda, as a reception centre for wild animals that were found as casualties (sick, injured, orphaned, confiscated from illegal trade etc).

In the early 1960s, it changed its role to a traditional zoo ("Entebbe Zoo"), a name that rings memories in the minds of many Ugandans to date. At that time, a number of non-indigenous species, including bears and tigers, were kept as attractions.

In May 1994, the UWEC Trust was founded to take over the zoo primarily for Conservation Education purposes. The Centre’s location on the edge of Lake Victoria, its rich vegetation and its surprisingly wide range of birds, butterflies and other indigenous animals make it an attractive venue for education as well as a pleasing one for those who visit, whether Ugandans or people from overseas

The former Entebbe Zoo derives its name from Entebbe town. “Entebbe", in the local Luganda language, means a “seat", and was probably named that because it was the place where the Buganda chief sat to adjudicate legal cases. It first became a British colonial administrative and commercial center in 1893 when Sir Gerald Portal, a colonial Commissioner, used it as a base. Port Bell went on to become Kampala’s harbor. Although no ships dock there now, there is still a jetty, which was used by Lake Victoria ferries. Entebbe is perhaps best known to Europeans as the home of Entebbe International Airport, the main international airport of Uganda, which was inaugurated in 1947. The Entebbe airport was the scene of one of the most daring counter-terrorism operations in history when soldiers from an elite unit of the Israeli army freed over 100 hostages following a hijacking by a group of Palestinian and German militia. It was also from this airport that Queen Elizabeth II departed Africa to return to England in 1952 when she learned of her father’s death and that she had become Queen. Elevation: 3871 ft (1,180 m) Population: (2011 Estimate) 79,700 .

WHAT IS DONE AT UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE, UGANDA

Wildlife Rescue

• UWEC's Veterinary staff and animal keepers are always on standby to attend to injured, sick or stressed animals. They work closely with other stakeholders like the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and communities. However, we believe that rescuing animals is just a short-term solution.
• UWEC believes that attitude- and behavioral change through creating awareness is a more sustainable approach to species survival. That is why they value conservation education. Please check out “School and Community Programs" to learn more.

Treatment of injured and sick Animals

• If a sick or injured animal arrives at UWEC, a physical examination is undertaken by their staff which consists of Veterinarian, (Animal doctor), nurse and keepers. UWEC's veterinary and animal caretakers undertake a series of activities throughout the year like daily observations, running blood and fecal samples, physical animal examination etc. to ensure that all animals are healthy and do not carry over diseases.
• Depending on their individual health status, some animals need to be kept for a long time for special care or rehabilitation before they can be released into the wild again or integrated in our Centre.

Wildlife Quarantine Services

• UWEC's facility has also got a wildlife quarantine area outside the general public’s view in order to prevent infectious disease transfer. The wildlife education centre's Veterinary unit plays an important role by ensuring that quarantined and exhibited animals are healthy.

Contribute to species recovery

• UWEC has evolved from just displaying animals to visitors to playing a vital role in conservation. UWEC has the mandate to breed species that are at risk of extinction in the wild. This role enables the entity to build a healthy animal population as a backup for endangered species. Breeding at UWEC is carefully managed to control numbers and prevent inbreeding. The aim is to ensure genetic variation in the captive population. This can only be achieved by using a comprehensive record of each individual animal.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFERED AT UGANDA WILDLIFE EDUCATION CENTRE, UGANDA

School Visits

• Bring your class or pupils along for a visit at UWEC Zoo and joins in on the learning journey which helps you discover the unique aspects of animals under UWEC’s care! Come close to them, explore, enjoy and learn. Make prior arrangements for special programs designed to fit your school or class learning abilities. UWEC is the prefect hands on learning choice in Uganda!

Guided Tours

• UWEC has specially trained educators/ guides who take visitors through an engaging and thematic guided tour of the facility. They help identify the animal species both in English and local languages, tell you about their cultural values, conservation status, animal anecdotes, habitats and help you decide on a positive conservation action to ensure species survival or recovery plan.
• Although the education centre lays special emphasis on young people, their guides are equally equipped to handle adults in a way that makes the information meaningful and entertaining.
• They also have our guides stationed at every animal exhibit, ready to go down the journey of conservation education with you!

Hands on Experience

• Boasting a diverse and highly skilled Education Team, UWEC provides unique learning sessions for all ages and abilities. They have tried to link environmental education sessions to the National Curriculum, using an experiential learning approach using resources such as live animals, biofacts, multimedia etc. UWEC’s animal exhibits that mimic the animals natural environment equally make the learners even appreciate the key learning!

Internship

• UWEC provides a practical hands on opportunity to students through; industrial/ internship placements as part of the requirement for the award of their different degrees and diplomas, as well as enabling them gain a much needed work experience.

Workshops

• Workshops and Seminars for teachers, students, youths and community leaders.
• Participate in seminars, workshops and exchange ideas on how you help find solutions to the environmental challenges that affect your society. We engage leaders, communities, teachers and students as we think about the future.

Self-Guided Tour

• You can have self- guided tour, by just following the signage. Get more information on; species, habitat and ecosystems relationships, functions, importance and challenges to their conservation and management.