Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) is working on a project of putting scriptures along the Entebbe – Kampala road in a contest for the national promotion of wildlife conservation and tourism in Uganda.
This was revealed by Dr James Musinguzi the UWEC’s Executive Director on Wednesday 27th during the launch of the African Grey Parrot Conservation Centre at UWEC formerly known as The Zoo in Entebbe to save the African Grey parrots as a result of a partnership with Chubu University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The facility was handed over to UWEC by partners from Chubu University in Japan, and a delegation from JICA, in the presence of Management and staff of UWEC. It consists of a research unit as well as a seating room of 25 capacity fully furnished with also Internet access that will be used in research, collecting and storing samples from all parrots for DNA analysis among other benefits.
During the same event, Dr James Musinguzi expressed gratitude to the development partners for their sustainable partnerships emphasizing the centre’s national role in advancing scientific knowledge through research, promoting community engagement, and fostering a culture of conservation stewardship among future generations.
“The opening of the African Grey Parrot Centre marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to conserve Uganda’s biodiversity and promote ecotourism,” he added.
He also noted that by providing a dedicated space for research and education, they are not only safeguarding the future of African Grey Parrots but also empowering communities through conservation and eco-tourism.
While handing over the fully furnished facility, Inoue Yoichi the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said that the Gray Parrot Conservation Center here is a significant landmark for JICA’s Grassroot Technical Cooperation Project on the promotion of regional cooperation for African Grey parrot conservation.
“This African Grey Parrot Conservation Project has been carried out under the close collaboration between UWEC and Chubu University. As one of the project outputs, this Conservation Center was constructed, and it will be utilized for a wide range of purposes, including research on African Gray Parrots and training programs on eco-tourism. But more importantly, I believe the construction of this facility should be considered as a symbol of protection for the endangered bird species,” he noted.
Yoichi also recognized the great effort of Chubu University in coordinating with UWEC to secure both human and financial resources hoping that the unwavering cooperation between UWEC and Chubu University will continue between both sides.
“I hope this event will be an opportunity for everyone to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting not only African Gray Parrots but also wildlife animals and habitats, and look forward to further development of the project,” he concluded.
Ushida Kazunari the Project Leader and a Dean professor at the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology Chubu University expressed hope for continued cooperation between UWEC and Chubu University to facilitate the exchange of skills, knowledge, and technologies.
The African grey parrot is known for its beauty and intelligence which makes it a popular pet also leading to high cases of traffics for illicit trade. An estimate of over 800,000 parrots was captured between 2000 and to date with 40,000 parrots being captured illegally each year.
Among initiatives UWEC is undertaking are the outreach programs, renovations at the centre and the African grey Parrot facility that will act as a key in research and studies, collecting and storing samples from all parrots for DNA analysis, building capacity for staff, equipment, and materials, developing conservation education programs to promote ecotourism at release sites like Ngamba Island and Kibaale, and also supporting wildlife and ecotourism enterprises to improve the livelihood of communities neighbouring the release sites.
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