The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) wants Sh10b in its 2024/25 budget to start breeding lions in a bid aimed at increasing their population.
The lion population dropped from 460 in 2022 to around 320 lions, due to human-wildlife conflicts according to UWEC.
“Tourism requires Sh10b to start breeding lions through UWEC. We now have 15 lions at UWEC which we have been breeding, but the lion population in the country has gone down because of human wildlife conflict. We are now going to start breeding them in Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo and Murchison Falls National parks,” explained Mwine Mpaka, Chairperson Parliament’s Committee of Tourism, while appearing before the Budget Committee.
Meanwhile, a report from Parliament’s Agriculture Committee observed that Sh10b was budgeted for the establishment of the pig breeding centre in 2024/25 through the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC&DB).
However, only Sh5b was provided for, yet there is need to avail improved pig genetic resources.
The centre will also be used to train pig farmers across the country, hence the need to avail the balance of Sh5b to the centre.
