BIG INTERVIEW: Musingo, the 'other animal' that lifts Musinguzi at UWEC

James Musinguzi and David Musingo joined UWEC together but the latter cannot stop gushing about his colleague's impact on his wildlife conservation career
BIG INTERVIEW | James Musinguzi has spent 18 years transforming Entebbe Zoo. In tripling the capacity of the Uganda Wildlife Conservation and Education Center (UWEC), Musinguzi founded on a revolution that would set a triumph of high achievement, with the history of helping in running an Institution.
In an interview, Dr James Musinguzi spoke about his journey through the years and how UWEC is making impact on wildlife conservation in the country.
Excerpts;-
When did you join UWEC?
In 2006, while I was teaching at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, the biology enthusiast in me saw an advert seeking education and conservation officers at the then Entebbe Zoo. At the same time, I had also married a young beautiful lady who lived in Kampala.
I had to come to Kampala every weekend and return to Mbarara every Sunday which was a little hectic. So, when I saw the advert, I tried my luck. Out of the many people who applied for the job, David Musingo and I emerged as the overall best candidates.
Even when the Zoo needed one person, the high skills exhibited by the two forced the institution to employ both of us. I later grew in ranks to become the Acting Executive Director and later substantive Executive Director, upon leading the institution through the most turbulent times.
What were some of the challenges you found at the zoo by then?
At the time, the institution only depended on donations and grants. With its wide scope, good name and international recognition, the institution longed for direct government funding to cater for not only the feeding of the wild animals, but also the engagement in the further development of the place to meet the perceived international standards.
It is upon such a background that I led a team that included David Musingo to defend the quest to have an improved budget, with direct funding and a vote from the central government to further develop the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Centre.
Indeed, as the government approved the budget, what ran in their minds as leaders of the institution was how to make UWEC better, a zoo and aquaria best in the East African region.
We started off together. Me and Musingo, joined on the same day, worked hand in hand and put brains together to get to where we are right now. If I can attribute this success, I wouldn’t say it is single-handed. With guidance from the team and support from my colleague Musingo, we have come a long way and continue to improve this facility for Uganda to benefit.
How it transformed from Entebbe Zoo to UWEC?
In a tenure filled with challenges, we stood high above a Potomac rejuvenating UWEC to not only the wild but also the consumers of the wild adventure.
A chimpanzee sanctuary was improved, increasing the number of Chimpanzees to more than 29, despite losing the founding primate, Zakayo. Zakayo met his demise in 2018 aged 54.
The chimpanzees alone have introduced several rich people such as Sudhir Rupareliia, getting to the place, acting as brand ambassadors for the wildlife, with affection to the apes.
A magnificent floating restaurant that offers a refreshing adventure into nature, surrounded by water on Lake Victoria added value to the already constructed guests’ rooms that offers night experiences while sleeping at the Uganda Wildlife Education and Conservation Center in Entebbe. Situated about 10 kilometers from Entebbe International Airport, the place acts as the first point of interaction between tourists and nature in Uganda as soon as the jet off an aircraft, reaching Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.
Guests leave the airport and their first point of interaction with what and how Uganda looks like should be at UWEC. To those who want to leave Uganda for a trip abroad, you can keep time by coming early, getting to UWEC and interacting with wildlife in a refreshing way.
For an institution brought up from no funding to a subvention under the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities vote, our leadership at the institution would end the grappling with funding and, a lot of conservation work was being done by the institution in managing and improving Uganda’s Wildlife.
How does the government support UWEC?
Currently, the government supports the Tourism, Wildlife Conservation and Education Center with up to Shs21.698 billion, from no funding in 2013. The costs have seen the institution not only pave roads to the different animal facilities but also helped grow the Chimpanzee center.
How did Covid-19 impact UWEC and tourists?
During the 2020 – 2022 Covid-19 period, the country experienced dire budget cuts. With the closure of public places such as the UWC from visitation from the general public, the institution lacked fees such as gate collection from visitors and tourists who could supplement the purchase of food stuff for the different animals within their care.
The institution solicited support from the vast majority of Ugandans, the Indian community and several well-wishers who love and celebrate wildlife. Blanketed in jungles and fringed by the wonder beach survived a dire Covid-19 pandemic that left the institution with lack of resources.
People such as tycoon Sudhir Rupareliia now join the big wildlife family in supporting UWEC in transformation. Also, national and international leaders visit the centre to interact with wildlife and feel the beauty of the country. Leaders such as the first ladies from the different countries in Africa, Speakers and Presiding Officers from the commonwealth nations, ambassadors and ministers from visiting countries, tycoons, among other groups of people visit the palatal area for adventure each time they jet into the country.
Last year, the government handed over Entebbe Botanical Gardens to UWEC, were you ready to take over?
The recent addition of the Botanical Gardens on the wide list of adventurous areas widely under the support and occupation of the Entebbe Zoo make the institution rather a more adventurous one. The gardens, which hold up the vast majority of the tree and plant species in the world, also act as a safe haven for relaxation and tourism.
Being a garden, usually open to the public with a wide range of plants grown for scientific and educational purposes, several of the Ugandans, especially researchers and school going children visit the place for studies, one a reason UWEC thrives.
It is estimated that more than 5,000 people visit the botanical gardens every week, just after the renovation and improvement of the standards of offering services by the UWEC since the transfer of administration of the gardens from the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) to UWEC last year.
What are your key achievements as an ED of UWEC?
Wild animal sculptures along the main Entebbe Road. Last year, after wide consultations, the institution instituted sculptures along the main Entebbe Kampala Road, to educate tourists from the Entebbe International Airport of the wide range of wildlife species that the institution holds at the zoo.
The sculptures, which also act as an awareness and educational strategy of the country’s natural endowment left Ugandans amazed by the several educational services that have not only helped in the transformation of the country’s tourism which now acts as one of the leading foreign exchange earners in the country. More than 20 sculptures were instituted from the Entebbe International airport through the 15-kilo meter run in the municipality to Katabi town council headquarters.
Revenue collection-Indeed our support for such institutions has also seen an increase in revenue generation with a new target of an extra Shs2 billion deliberated into the consolidated fund from the institution to boost Uganda’s revenue generations.
Growth of Non-Tax Revenue from Shs1 billion to Shs5.5 billion. Visitor numbers have grown from 400,000 in FY 2022/2023 to 609, 000 visitors in the 2023/2024 FY
The country is fast developing and in the just concluded merging process of state agencies, we believe we shall be drawn nearer to further transcend the idea of developing tourism through state and non-state funding to further generate resources.
Renovation of the zoo - with all paved roads and better infrastructure including the floating restaurant - has seen the institution receive untiring praise for the fascinating sights and sounds, with fresh water waves touching the shoreline of the fringing beaches for an amazing adventure.
Leadership ranks and experiences. Member of the prestigious World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA), Member and Chair of the Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA), Recruitment of competent technical staff with good customer care offering at the Zoo.
Capacity building for staff
Products and services diversification. Animal species like tigers, lions, leopard, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes, and reptiles like snakes and crocodiles. Primates like chimpanzees, services like accommodation with cottages, apartments, hostels, camping, among others.
As of now, we have Longest beach line in Entebbe.
Infrastructure development. Paved roads, new giraffe exhibit, new elephant holding, new expanded chimpanzee island, new expanded animal hospital and quarantine area, new and expanded office block, new tiger exhibit, new wild dog exhibit, expanded ziplining tracks, through bird aviary, new branded gate, new resting visitor shades, online booking and payment system, new toilet facilities and establishment of a satellite Wildlife Centre in Mbale.
Wildlife rescue efforts. Animal rescue efforts saw an increase from 152 to 348 animals rescued in the year 2023.
There are so many achievements I can’t explain them all and finish.
How do you evaluate the merger of UWEC to UWA?
The merger will create more opportunities, synergies and a bigger institution that will have more bargaining power and partnerships for the good of wildlife conservation as long as it is done well according to the laid down guidelines. More technical expertise specific to solving challenges in the sector is coming on board through the merger and I am optimistic the future is bright.
Do you see UWEC continuing progress even after the merger?
Yes, because the team we have built at UWEC overtime is solid, resilient, hardworking and above all passionate about work. UWEC budget will be funded better for the realisation of the dreams and aspirations we had in the pipeline. I’m optimistic things will be better including salaries, thereby motivating staff for better performance.
Where do you see UWEC in the next 10 years?
UWEC is poised for greatness, setting up Satellite wildlife conservation education centres across Uganda will be a game changer with more people benefitting from jobs created for socio-economic transformation at the household level, learning more about environmental Conservation and positive Conservation Actions.
UWEC is also strengthening capacity in breeding wild animals to boost the population in the national parks. Of course, I see UWEC being the top-notch destination in East and Central Africa, with wide education benchmarking in the next 10 years.
Challenges you have faced as the ED of UWEC?.
Major challenges have been rotating around funding which has been inadequate. UWEC transformed from Trust to a statutory body and the transition process required a lot of money to recruit competent staff, infrastructure, vehicles etc.
There is a need for more funding to feed the animals and maintain the infrastructure in place. Recently, UWEC was merged to Uganda Wildlife Authority under the Uganda Wildlife Authority (Amendment) Act 2024.