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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre –UWEC has banned impromptu visits as it announced new operational guidelines aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.
UWEC managing director James Musinguzi says that the ban on impromptu visits to the centre will enable better planning, enforcing social distancing within the centre and limit the number of visitors at a given time. Visitors will also not be allowed to interact with wildlife especially animals and will only be allowed on condition that they make cashless payments.
Musinguzi says the proposals have been sent to the ministry of health for approval before the centre can re-open to the public. The proposals come just days after the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities issued standard operating procedures for hotels and accommodation facilities as Uganda prepares to revitalize the tourism sector.
The centre was closed on March 27, following an outbreak of COVID-19. However, the closure resulted in a budget shortfall of 1.5 billion Shillings for the last quarter of the 2019/2020 financial year. Musinguzi says that the centre has been able to take care of over 600 animal and bird species even amidst the shortfall.
UWEC used to receive an average of 400,000 visitors every year especially foreigners and school-going children. However, Musinguzi says the number could reduce by end of this year due to global travel restrictions and closure of several airports.
Tom Butime, the Minister for Tourism says that he has set up a task force to brainstorm on how the tourism sector can be revived after being affected by covid-19.
Butime on Tuesday unveiled a monument in memory of Zakayo, Uganda’s oldest Chimpanzee who died in November 2018 at UWEC.
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