Vice President Alupo opens Mbale Wildlife Education Centre under UWA's new model. 

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on Friday officially opened the Mbale Satellite Wildlife Education Centre in Mbale City under the Regional Wildlife Conservation Education Centres initiative, aimed at decentralizing conservation education and bringing wildlife experiences closer to communities across Uganda.

Located along the Mbale–Tororo Road, the centre has already received several animals translocated from the Entebbe Zoo, including lions, zebras, waterbucks, ostriches, and peacocks.

Speaking at the launch, UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi described the facility as a major milestone in Uganda’s conservation journey and a strategic step toward decentralizing the Entebbe Zoo. 

He noted that while the Entebbe Zoo has served the country since 1952, the Mbale facility is only the second zoo established in Uganda and the first under UWA’s regional model.

Musinguzi said the regional centres are intended to bring wildlife closer to communities, giving both children and adults an opportunity to interact with animals firsthand while fostering a deeper understanding of conservation and environmental stewardship.

Mbale Northern City Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Were Yahya, welcomed the initiative, saying it would spare schools and families in eastern Uganda the long journey to Entebbe for wildlife education. 

He added that the centre would create employment opportunities for local residents and provide internship placements for students pursuing wildlife, tourism, and environmental studies.

The Umukuuka wa Bugisu, HH Jude Mike Mudoma, thanked the government for establishing the facility in Mbale, describing it as a national project that will transform the city into a hub for conservation learning, democratizing knowledge, wildlife rescue, scientific research, eco-tourism, and community recreation.

Umukuuka Mudoma also called for sustainable alternatives to the use of animal skins in cultural ceremonies, saying the production of realistic fabricated skins could help eliminate demand for poached Colobus monkeys while preserving cultural traditions.

Vice President Jessica Alupo, the chief guest at the launch, hailed the centre as a significant step in advancing conservation education and sustainable development. 

She said the region’s strong cultural heritage and growing tourism potential make it an ideal location for the facility.

Alupo noted that the centre will enhance conservation awareness, support research, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth in tourism, agriculture, and industry.