12TH JUNE 2026
Your Excellency, Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda and our Chief Guest today, the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Honorable Members of Parliament, RCC, Your Worship the Mayor of Mbale City and Leadership of the Bugisu Kingdom, the Chairman of the Board and the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the Director and Management of the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), distinguished Religious and Cultural Leaders, our Gallant Conservation Partners, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning to you all. Mulembe naabi.
Your Excellency, before I delve into the core of my remarks today, permit me to take this golden opportunity, on behalf of the people of Bugisu region, and all stakeholders present, to extend our warmest and most heartfelt congratulations to you. Your recent reappointment to the high office of the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda is a resounding endorsement of your exceptional leadership, humility, and dedication to public service.
We in Eastern Uganda feel a deep sense of pride seeing you grace this historic occasion as our Guest of Honor and as a daughter of the soil.
Your commitment to national transformation, rural empowerment, and environmental sustainability has been evident throughout your occupation.
Your presence here today signals to the entire country that conservation is not a secondary issue; it is a frontline pillar of our national development agenda. We pray that the Almighty God continues to grant you wisdom and excellent health as you serve our motherland.
Your Excellency, today we are witnessing history in the making. For over six decades, whenever anyone in Uganda talked about wildlife education, rescue, or rehabilitation, there was only one geographical location that came to mind: Entebbe. For the student in Bukwo, for the researcher in Kotido, for the community member in Busia, or the entrepreneur here in Mbale, the treasures of conservation education were locked behind hundreds of kilometers of travel. The cost, the time, and the distance created an invisible barrier between our people and their natural heritage.
Today, that barrier has been permanently shattered.
We owe an immense debt of gratitude to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the government of Uganda, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The President’s strategic vision for this country has always been built on regional equity, wealth creation, and the sustainable exploitation of our resources.
By establishing this regional Satellite Wildlife Education Center right here in Mbale, the government has brought the wealth of the wild to the doorstep of Eastern Uganda. This is not just a localized project; it is a Grand National initiative. Decentralizing conservation education means we are democratizing knowledge. We are ensuring that the child of a peasant farmer in the foothills of Mount Elgon can walk into a world-class facility, look into the eyes of our majestic wildlife, and understand their role in the ecosystem without needing a budget for a cross-country trip.
This center will bridge a massive historic gap. It will transform Mbale City into the ultimate hub for conservation learning, wildlife rescue, scientific research, eco-tourism, and community recreation for the entire eastern region and neighboring areas.
Distinguished guests, let us be ambitious and realistic about what this facility represents. Mbale was elevated to city status to become a center of commerce, culture, and innovation. With the launch of this Satellite Wildlife Education Center, I can confidently tell you that the hospitality and tourism landscape of Mbale City will never be the same again.
Tourism is one of Uganda’s highest foreign exchange earners, but for a long time, the Eastern Circuit was often viewed primarily through the lens of adventure tourism-climbing Mount Elgon or visiting the majestic Sipi Falls. This facility adds a crucial, missing layer: family tourism, educational tourism, and urban eco-tourism.
Think about the ripple effect this facility will have on our local economy: The Hospitality Industry: Hoteliers, guest houses, and homestays will experience an influx of weekend travelers, school groups, and international researchers booking accommodation. The Service Sector: Restaurants, cafes, transport operators, and local tour guides will see their demand skyrocket as thousands of visitors flock to the center weekly. Our Local Artisans: The youth and women who make crafts, cultural regalia, and souvenirs will find a brand-new, highly concentrated marketplace right here. This center is an economic engine masked as a wildlife sanctuary.
I, therefore, call upon the private sector in Mbale and across Eastern Uganda to aggressively position themselves. Upgrade your services, expand your hotel capacities, build creative tour packages that link this center to Mount Elgon National Park, and let us show the world the legendary hospitality of the East.
Your Excellency, as we celebrate this modern facility, we must remember that true conservation cannot succeed if it is divorced from the culture of the people who live alongside the wildlife. In the Bugisu Kingdom, our relationship with nature is deeply rooted in our traditions, our folklore, and our identity. We do not just look at animals as biological specimens; we look at them as part of our cultural fabric. This brings me to a matter of great strategic importance to our kingdom and the Elgon ecosystem: the conservation of the Black-and White Colobus Monkey.
The Colobus monkey is a stunning, gentle creature that calls the Elgon zone home. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, climate challenges, and human-wildlife conflict, it has become an endangered species. But beyond the ecological threat, the Colobus monkey faces a unique challenge tied directly to our cultural heritage. For generations, the beautiful, flowing skin of the Colobus monkey has been a highly sought-after component of our traditional ceremonies, cultural dances, and royal regalia. As a progressive kingdom, we find ourselves at a critical crossroads. How do we protect our rich, unbreakable cultural traditions while simultaneously ensuring that we do not drive a precious, endangered species into total extinction? True leadership demands that we do not choose one over the other; instead, we must innovate to save both.
I am incredibly proud to announce today that I am spearheading an innovative partnership aimed directly at the conservation of the Colobus monkey in the Elgon zone. We have already designed and written a comprehensive project proposal seeking strategic and financial support to fabricate high-quality, synthetic replicas of the Colobus monkey skin. This is a game-changing solution. By manufacturing realistic, durable, and culturally respectful fabricated skins, we can achieve two vital goals: We will completely eliminate the market demand for poaching live Colobus monkeys, allowing their populations in Mount Elgon to recover and thrive. We will fully preserve, protect, and celebrate our cultural dances and ceremonies, ensuring our children can wear the traditional regalia with pride, knowing that no animal had to bleed for their culture. I formally present this vision to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and our international conservation partners here today. Let us back this proposal. Let us make the Elgon zone a global blueprint for how modern conservation science can walk hand-in-hand with African cultural preservation.
As I draw to a close, I want to speak directly to our local communities, our teachers, our parents, and most importantly, our vibrant youth. This beautiful facility belongs to you. It is your laboratory, your sanctuary, and your pride. Do not let these cages and pathways remain quiet. Let our schools organize weekly field trips here. Let our universities use this space to conduct groundbreaking research on wildlife diseases, animal behavior, and ecological restoration. Let our families choose this center as their preferred weekend destination for recreation and bonding. When we teach a child to respect an animal, we are teaching that child to respect life. When we educate a community on how to co-exist with wildlife, we are building a sustainable future where human progress does not mean environmental destruction.
Once again, I want to salute UWA, UWEC, the Bugisu Kingdom, and the entire government of Uganda.
Your Excellency, toto Jessica Alupo, thank you for coming to launch this new dawn for Eastern Uganda. Let us match forward into a future of thriving tourism, vibrant culture, robust economic growth, and absolute environmental stewardship.
Thank you very much. May God bless the Bagisu, and may God bless the Republic of Uganda.
Lweliswa nibulaamu bweffe.
Sir Jude Mike Mudoma
UMUKUUKA.
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