Madinah Tebajjukira
6 July 2009
Kampala — THE Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) wants to take over management of the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for the establishment of a tourist circuit.
The centre's executive director, Andrew Seguya, told visiting MPs on the trade, industry and tourism committee that plans for its take-over were in advanced stages. Seguya explained that the move followed a complaint by President Yoweri Museveni that tourists weer being robbed of their property while in the gardens.
The gardens are managed by the National Agricultural Advisory Services. "The gardens are not well managed and I think we can use our skills to make them better and generate more money," Seguya said, adding that most activities done in the gardens are not environmentally friendly.
He wondered how motor racing, a popular sport held in the gardens, is related to the environment. Seguya told the MPs led by Kiiza Rwebembera (NRM) that the centre plans to establish other tourist circuits at Lutembe and Ngamba at a cost of sh2b. Besides this, Seguya said the wildlife centre has finalised plans to set up satellite centres in the northern, eastern and western parts of the country.
The centres will be developed in partnership with Gulu, Busitema, Mountains of the Moon, and Mbarara universities.
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Hi there I am happy that this move is being considered. I am just about to finish a 3 year botanic Garden management training at the fore most botanic gardens in the World but would need support to implement what I have trained for to get world class quality. It is a pity visas are a hinderance but we really need the expertise from the West particularly the UK. Please let me know how I can be of help as I have already done Garden design and will soon hold a qualification second to none in botanic gardens management.
David Paul Alicha ( Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, England)