By Masejele Sulaiman
For years, many learners in Eastern Uganda could only study wildlife through textbooks, classroom illustrations, and television programs. On Wednesday, that changed as thousands of pupils and students visited the newly established Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) facility in Mbale ahead of its official opening on June 12.
The free public tour attracted learners, teachers, school administrators, and local residents eager to experience wildlife up close. For many of the young visitors, it was their first time seeing animals such as lions, zebras, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, ostriches, parrots, and peacocks in real life.
The facility, established by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), is expected to become a major center for conservation education and environmental awareness in Eastern Uganda. Mukisa Emmanuel, a Conservation Education Officer, said the center will help bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical wildlife education.
Under the competence-based curriculum, learners need practical exposure. We shall work closely with schools and communities to ensure children gain a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation and environmental protection, he said.
According to Mukisa, the center will also conduct outreach programs in schools and communities while promoting tourism and conservation awareness across the region. Teachers who visited the facility welcomed the development, saying it would make educational tours more affordable and accessible.
Mr Robert Mukamba, Director of Cream Nursery and Primary School in Mbale City, said schools have long faced challenges traveling to distant wildlife centers.
It has always been expensive and difficult to travel to Entebbe. Having such a facility in Mbale is a big advantage because learners can now access wildlife education more easily, he said.
Mrs Rosslyn Aketch, Deputy Principal in charge of Outreach Programs at Mukuju Core PTC, described the center as a valuable educational resource.
Our students were excited to see the animals live. This facility will strengthen environmental education and make learning more practical, she said.
Many learners expressed excitement during the tour, with some saying they had only seen lions and other wild animals on television or in books before visit.
The establishment of the UWEC facility in Mbale is expected to boost conservation awareness, support tourism development, and bring wildlife education services closer to schools and communities throughout Eastern Uganda.