Uganda Wildlife Education Centre( UWEC) has said the recent hike in entrance fees at the zoo in Entebbe is aimed at moving in tandem with the rising cost of feeding the animals.
“These adjustments reflect our commitment to providing exceptional care for our animals, maintaining a world-class facility, and supporting vital conservation education initiatives,” Dr. James Musinguzi , the UWEC Executive Director said.
UWEC early this week announced a 100% hike in the entrance fees in which adults will now pay shs20,000 from shs10,000 while children will now part with shs10,000 from the shs5000 they previously paid.
This hike which takes effect on July, 1 has caused murmurs from members of the public.
However, according to UWEC, they have not increased entry fees for Ugandan and East African visitors in over 10 years despite the rise in cost of doing business.
UWEC said the rates for international visitors have been adjusted in the past, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The revisions to the entry fees are aimed at ensuring the continued care of UWEC’s diverse animal species, while also improving the overall experience of visitors.”
Popularly known as “Entebbe Zoo”, UWEC 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.
UWEC’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.
