APPROVAL

This report has been submitted for examination with

the approval of supervisor.

On site supervisor

Signature. Date
..

Academic supervisor
.

Signature . Date

i
DECLARATION
I Darious Mugabe hereby declare that this industrial report
is an original work and has not been published or
submitted to this organization or any other institution of
training for any academic award.

Signature.
Date...../Sept/2012

2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With great pleasure, I would like to extend my sincere
gratitude and thanks to my parents for their sincere
support they have given me. I would like to also thank the
family of Mr. and Mrs. David Baluku for the care and
support they gave me all thought my internship.

I again thank my fellow trainees, the likes of Elsam

(Uncle), Mary, Joselyn and Sharon for their good
corporation during the training.

I also would like to thank my supervisors both the

university and field supervisors plus the UWEC staff for the
good corporation they had with me during the training
period.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPROVAL.................................................................................................
DECLARATION...........................................................................................
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT................................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / ACRONYMS........................................................
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................
CHAPTER ONE:...........................................................................................
1.0 INTRODUCTON..................................................................................
1.1 Location..............................................................................................
1.2 Background of UWEC............................................................................
1.3 UWECS mission..................................................................................
1.4 UWECS VISION..................................................................................
1.5 UWECS MANDATED ROLES...........................................................
1.6 UWECS CORE VALUES..................................................................
1.7 Departments in UWEC.......................................................................
1.7.1 Education department..................................................................
1.7.2 business department....................................................................
1.7.3 THE MAINTAINANCE DEPARTMENT..........................................
1.7.4 THE HORTICULTURE AND ANIMAL DEPARTMENT......................
1.7.5 THE ADMINISTRATION............................................................
1.8.0 Organizational analysis.................................................................
1.8.1 UWECs SWOT Analysis is as follows:............................................
1.9 Objectives of the training....................................................................
SECTION TWO............................................................................................
2.1 Significance of the internship...............................................................
2.2 Lessons learnt by the trainee while at UWEC............................................
2.3 Challenges faced by the trainee while at UWEC........................................
2.4 Challenges faced by UWEC as an organization.........................................
2.5 Recommendations.............................................................................
2.6 Conclusion...........................................................................................
4
 APPENDIX.................................................................................................
THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART................................................................

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / ACRONYMS.

Asst . Assistant

GRN Goods
Received Note

HR Human
Resource

ICT .
Information communication Technology

LST .. Local
service Tax

MUST . Mbarara
University of Science and Technology

NSSF . National
Social Security Fund

PAYE .. Pay As
You Earn

URA . Uganda
Revenue Authority

UWA .. Uganda
Wildlife Authority

UWEC. Uganda
Wildlife Education Center

WHT ... With

Holding Tax

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ABSTRACT
I carried out my internship at Uganda wildlife education
centre (UWEC). UWEC is licensed under the ministry of
tourism and wildlife, and it acts as a one stop centre for
the tourists, researchers and it offers internship
opportunities to the students In need of education about
animals, horticulture and other related departments like
accounting, marketing and procurement. Internship is an
opportunity to relate what has been covered in class and
what is applicable in the field in an operational
environment. The purpose of the program is to fulfill the
core equipment for the award of a Bachelor Degree in
Business Administration to get a practical aspect of the
theoretical work studied at the university and to
understand the operations in the business sector and to
enable students gain experience in different tasks.

During my internship period a number of approaches and exposure

methods were used which included: hands on, through reading relevant
materials, and also questions and answer approaches.

I was assigned to different departments which include the

accounts department, stores section and the guiding
department and this helped me interact with different

6
 people, clients and this helped me acquire information and
gain the benefits of customer care. I gained knowledge on how
to enter and analyze data using different accounting and statistical
packages in finance solution, Excel and Access.

In conclusion, this was an opportunity to develop and

enhance skills and competencies in my career field which I
actually achieved.

CHAPTER ONE:

1.0 INTRODUCTON

1.1 Location
UWEC is located 34 km from Kampala Entebbe highway, 6 km from Entebbe
airport. It occupies 32 hectares of land overlooking the magnificent Lake Victoria.
Its great biodiversity and intrinsic nature creates a serene and conducive
environment for both tourists and the animals. It is not all about animals and birds
but also plants and animals are considered. It offers 1000m forest walk
encountering birds, monkeys, butterflies and a wonderful view of the centre.

1.2 Background of UWEC

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) was opened in 1952 by the colonial
government as a reception center for wild animals that were found as casualties
(sick, injured, orphaned or/and confiscated from illegal trade). Under the authority
of the Game Department, an animal orphanage was created in 1956, to hand raise
the orphaned animals received through the Game Department. With time, this
collection became bigger, generating a great interest from the public in the
animals. This then prompted the creation and development of a National Zoo in
1962, in which even non-indigenous species like bears and tigers were kept.

Unfortunately, the political turmoil in the 1970s and inadequate government

funding led to serious breakdown of infrastructure and loss of valuable animals. It

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 continued run down until the early 90s when the government of Uganda
recognized the need to set up an institution that would provide leadership in
educating Ugandans about the benefits of conserving the countrys biodiversity. A
development study was then done by the New York Zoological society, which
recommended that the Zoo be transformed into a facility for environmental
education and tourism, one of the kingpins of the recovery process that the
country was going through.

On May 5, 1994 Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) was born and has since
grown to be one of the most respected conservation education institutions in
Africa and beyond, for successfully carrying out its mandates to educate
Ugandans on the importance of conserving the countrys biodiversity, to rescue
and rehabilitate injured, orphaned and/or confiscated wildlife and to breed
endangered wildlife species in captivity with an aim of re-introducing them back in
the wild.

UWEC is under the umbrella of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and
is recognized as a true success story and model institution for others to follow. The
centres strategic location on the shores of Lake Victoria, its rich biodiversity
consisting of birds, butterflies and other wildlife species makes it an attractive
venue for education and tourism for leisure.

1.3 UWECS mission

To promote and create an understanding of the conserving of the biodiversity in
Uganda among the public with special emphasis on the younger generation
through the centre facilities at Entebbe.

1.4 UWECS VISION

To be the leading centre in biodiversity conservation in Africa.

1.5 UWECS MANDATED ROLES

Conservation through education of the Uganda public.
Rescue and rehabilitation of animals. UWEC continually rescues animals found
injured, sick and abandoned in the wild by their parental animals in addition to
those which are prone to being killed by the communities.
Captive breeding unit for the threatened and indigenous species.
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 Entertainment through provision of recreation parks for the public.

1.6 UWECS CORE VALUES

Honesty

UWEC will exhibit the highest level of honesty in all dealings with its visitors,
clients and all stake holders in general.

Integrity

Will be the hallmark of UWECs dealings with all its visitors, internal and external
clients and all stake holders in general.

Accountability

UWEC will hold itself accountant to the entire public, to the different international
conventions that the country is signed to both in its operation and management.

Respect for wild life and nature

UWEC will at all time hold in respect the wildlife and nature of this earth and will
hold this in priority in all its operation and dealings ;will strive to create
awareness of issues affecting this nature and wildlife and will advocate fireless for
the sustainable utilization of the same.

Professionalism

UWEC will conduct itself and its business in a professional manner with due
respect accorded to ethical operation of its business and following of best practice
in all its dealings.

Customer-focused service

All this will be done in a customers focused manner that takes due care of the
interest and feelings of all state holders.

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 1.7 Departments in UWEC

1.7.1 Education department

Education department is in charge of carrying out primary roles of conservation
education programs. The department is divided into branches which include onsite
activities and outreach activities.

a) Onsite activities;
This branch is headed by the onsite officer who ensures that the following
activities at the centre have been performed by the concerned personalities;

Organized thematic guide and self guide tours to the tourists around the
site.
Guided tours involve assigning a tour guide to the guest who has already paid for
the guiding services. The guide interprets and explains the animals and plant life
at the centre in relation to human life while educating the guest. This service is
always more helpful and important to the guest coming to the centre for the first
time perhaps even the school children and learners from higher institution of
learning. On the other hand however, none guided tour guests are provided with
the site maps to help them interpret the signage enabling them reach every
corner of the exhibits at the centre.

Booking reservations
This involves receiving phone calls from the potential clients inquiring about the
fares and other procedures taken to visit the area. Most of the inquiries made are
in regard to the accommodation, entrance fees and charges, conference hall or
camping grounds that most of the time end up making reservations in any of the
above aspects.
Recreational activities
These are enhanced by the recreation and leisure facilities put in place. They
include the children play area, camel and donkey ridding, bouncing castles and
face painting for the children boat rides which are usually available during busy
days like Fridays and weekends during the peak season.

Trainees, researchers and volunteers

It is the education department which oversees and the trainees at the centre and
it ensures that the researchers who come to the centre get the actual information
in accordance to their research topic. The center offers opportunities to the

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students and volunteers who wish to do their industrial training in various sectors
like accounts, guiding and the likes.

The accommodation unit

This unit is under the onsite sector where some of trainees are supposed to have
practical knowledge, skills and experience especially when it comes to house
keeping. This unit consists of six guest bandas i.e. Rwenzori, Semuliki, Mburo,
Kidepo, Mugahinga and Queen Elizabeth bandas which are self contained, in a
cool silent environment with enough space for camping. Self contained services,
apartments and dormitories for the big groups, camping grounds are also
available for the adventure visitors.

A table showing the accommodation rates in UWEC.

Nature of Ugandan Non

accommodation s Ugandans
Service apartments 30$ 40$
Bandas 20$ 30$
Dormitories 5$ 10$
Cubicles 10$ 20$
Side rooms 10$ 20$
Camping grounds 5$ per 5$ per head
head

b) Outreach activities include;

Conservation education presentations to both primary and secondary

schools

This involves going to different schools with learning aids like the banners with
different animals and plant species and at times they move around with a few
animals along side the educators from the centre. The purpose of this is to
sensitize the young generation about wildlife and tourism while meeting the core
objective of the centre of conservation through education.

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 Community awareness on conservation.

This is done through sensitizing the community about the need to rescue and give
life to wild animals. Various groups in different communities are reached and are
educated about the various needs and ways of conservation and sustainability of
wildlife and our environment as a whole.

Animal exhibitions

UWEC is always engaged in animal exhibitions and trade shows with the aim of
promoting domestic tourism. This is mainly done through the animal shows,
provision of CD documentaries and other utilities containing wildlife in abide to
convey the message of conservation the Ugandan public.

1.7.2 business department

The business department is responsible for designing programs and promotions
that sell the establishment to the outside environment as well as generating
revenue for the organization. This department mainly consists of the following
branches/sections.

Accounts section

This section is responsible for handling the cash inflows and outflows of the centre
i.e. receiving of cash payments from the guests, issuance of receipts, receiving
the goods entering UWEC, balancing of accounts books for record keeping as well
as ensuring periodic auditing in addition to cash withdrawal and banking in their
prospective banks. This section is headed by the accounts manager with an
assistant and a few cashiers.

Marketing and public relations

This department is responsible for the organizing and maintaining sales promotion
through

Carrying out radio talk shows, TV shows presentations and workshops to the
community about UWEC.
Maintaining and updating UWECs website so that the clients from out side
countries are able to know much about the culture in UWEC.

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 Engaging in shows and exhibitions to market and show the community what
UWEC does.
Restaurant and canteen

The restaurant at UWEC is called the rhino restaurant and it provides both local
and international dishes to the guest/clients together with a variety of soft drinks.
Zakayos canteen is also available and well equipped with various beverages,
refreshment and bites to satisfy the clients needs while at the centre.

The crafts gift shop

This is another unit that sells different craft materials and other souvenir
particulars to the local and international guests. The crafts shop main purpose is
to promote culture through the exhibition of many different cultural activities in
different parts of Uganda. The restaurant, canteen and the crafts shop are also
among the income generating projects at the centre.

1.7.3 THE MAINTAINANCE DEPARTMENT

This is responsible for all the equipments and tools at the centre and ensuring that
they are all in their functional state as required. Its major activities include the
construction of the animal exhibits, plumbing activities, maintenance of the
children play area electrical repair connections among the rest. It is majorly
responsible for the general repairs at the centre.

1.7.4 THE HORTICULTURE AND ANIMAL DEPARTMENT

The horticulture department is responsible for the maintenance of the
demonstration nursery garden (medicinal garden) containing various medicinal
plants with their respective names, origin and uses. This garden is mainly used by
the botanists and agriculture students from the various schools that visit the
centre.

This department is also responsible for taking care of UWECs farmland where the
grass is got from to feed the animals.

The animal department is the main foundation of Uganda wildlife education

center. The animal department is mainly responsible for taking care and looking
after the animals at the center. It is this department that caters for the feeding,
breeding and behaviors of the animals at the center and looking after the sick.
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1.7.5 THE ADMINISTRATION
This involves the top management/members who sit on the technical committees
on the site headed by the Executive Director and then the top managers of UWEC
departments. This committee is mandated to ensure that the top main objectives
of the centre are archived. It is this administrative body or department that is
responsible for the day to day running of the centre, the employees and meeting
the customers needs and gain the customer goodwill and reputation.

1.8.0 Organizational analysis

1.8.1 UWECs SWOT Analysis is as follows:

a) Strengths

UWEC has a variety of wildlife species collection

UWEC has natural, serene, scenic landscape that makes it more

attractive.

Having the longest beach line around Entebbe.

User friendly exhibits that reflect Ugandas ecosystems

Strategic location near Entebbe International Airport, hotels and Lake

Victoria

Affiliation to government and other national and international

organizations like UWA.

Untapped market

Well trained and skilled human resource

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b) Weaknesses

Continued exhibition of wildlife species within Kampala and its surroundings,

which is taking a toll on visitor numbers to the centre

Poor historical image of the country especially during Amins time.

Poor image of UWEC as a dilapidated zoo of the 1970s

Inadequate funding for advertising, marketing and general awareness about

UWEC, its products and services

Under-developed recreation facilities like the childrens play area that still
needs development.

PPDA procedures that delay the procurement of materials for development

of the center.

Lack of an independent business development team, which hinders creation

and growth of business opportunities

Lack of clear segregation of duties and appropriate reporting lines amongst

staff

Disappointed visitors due to low holding capacity of the animals.

Missing indigenous animal species like the tigers, hippopotamus among the
rest.

Low repeat visits especially during the off peak season(October-April).

15
 More expensive in terms of recreation since neighboring beaches charge an
average of 2000/= two thousand shillings only

c) Opportunities

Positive trend towards the tourism industry development in the country.

General improved perception about wildlife and conservation among the

Ugandan public

Increased opportunities for partnerships with media, schools, hotels, tour

operations, NGOs etc

Opening up of satellite centers

Staying distinctive from the rest because its the only one of its kind.

Developing the beach with the longest beach line around Entebbe town.

Continually development of infrastructure to compete on that criterion

Fast growing animal collection from in and out of the centre.

Introduce price segmentation e.g. lower rates on poorly visited days and
constant/increased rates on better days

Improve childrens play area, fun facilities, and activities

Sell and increase affordable accommodation as a package

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 Unrivaled customer care

Tap into market with more interesting programs like chimpanzee close up,
exclusive guided tours, keeper for the day etc

Build more bandas especially singles and provide cooking facilities in them
since the biggest customers of these are foreign and prefer their own
prepared dishes due to taste and affordability

d) Threats

Beefed up competition among existing competitors like the reptile village

in Katabi.

New entrants into the entertainment field

Fierce competition from UWA for the same clientele

Escalating economic downturn due to the countys economic changes.

Increased global terrorism which in turn affects the centre.

Pollution of Lake Victoria by the nearby industries hence making the

beach dirty too.

Poor public environment in conservation education.

1.9 Objectives of the training

To impart theoretical skills into practical work.
To gain business work experience.
To relate with different categories of people in a working environment.

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 To gain exposure to the demand and challenges of the work place.
To obtain/acquire knowledge.

SECTION TWO

2.1 Significance of the internship

The training has helped the trainee to gain business work experience since he
was involved in practical work in a business environment.
The training has equipped the trainee with more knowledge in addition to that
obtained in class in relation to the working environment.
The training has helped the trainee to impart the theoretical knowledge to
practical since he was involved in the practical work in the business environment.
The internship training has managed to expose the trainee to the challenges in
the work place and how the challenges can be overcame.
The training has also helped the trainee in making of connections with various
people who in the future may give a helping hand in his life.
The internship training has helped the trainee in making friends with the other
trainees through interactions

2.2 Lessons learnt by the trainee while at UWEC.

The trainee learnt how to compute of company (WHT) and individual taxes like
PAYE, LST, NSSF and Local tax among the rest.
The trainee managed to learn the preparation of financial statement like cash
book and income statements, balance sheet in compliance to the international
accounting standards.
The trainee learnt several techniques used in internal auditing and how to
handle clients while auditing them.

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 The trainee learnt how to handle and manage several financial records and like
payment vouchers and accountabilities like receipts, payment of the suppliers of
the organization.
The trainee learnt how to prepare the employees pay roll.
The trainee learnt the various activities undertaken by the stores department
like writing of GRNs, issuing of BIN cards, receiving and distribution of goods to the
different user departments and stock taking.
The trainee learnt the various ways of customer handling in all aspects and
improvement in public relations and communication skills since guiding services
involve relating people of different kinds.
The trainee also managed to learn more about the wild animals and their
various behaviors and feeding habits.

The trainee learnt how to stock various stock items in the most appropriate
fashion, binning and racking them by the best methods, and placing them in such
a way that any item or material in the Store can be located quickly and easily
when it is required.

The trainee learnt various codes, conduct and professional ethics for approach,
recognizing ones strength and weakness in working as a team and a group in
accounting profession.

2.3 Challenges faced by the trainee while at UWEC

The periodic time for the internship was little yet the trainee had a lot to cover.
The working hours were long and this did not give the trainee ample time to do
his side activities.
Most of the work was done manually due to inadequate facilities like computers
which slowed down the work.
The trainee was faced with financial constraints since there was no facilitation
like transport or monthly wages.
Clients were so reluctant to submit in there accountabilities to the accountants
and the auditors hence making work ineffective and uneasy.
Pressure from the senior workers who always wanted most of the work done by
the trainees which in turn made the trainee tired by the end of the day.
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 2.4 Challenges faced by UWEC as an organization
UWEC practically has no room for expansion hence limiting development.
UWEC is faced with a challenge of animal pouching
Uwecs animals are constantly being attacked and killed by the predators
hence causing a great loss to the center.
Tourism being seasonal greatly affects UWECs running especially during the off
peak season.
UWEC still faces a challenge of stubborn visitors who forcefully feed the
animals with different kinds of food.
Limited funding from both the government and the donors like PAMSU which
expired in 2007 among the other withdrawn donations.
Inadequate labour especially in the peak season when the visitors are more
that the available guides.

2.5 Recommendations
I do appreciate the time and opportunity given to us as students as far as
internship training is concerned, however there is a need to review in ways in
which internship is handled and address some of above mentioned challenges by
both organization and university.
The administration (UWEC) should negotiate with the golf course management
to sell/give part of their grounds to the centre in a bid to expand on the size of the
organization to accommodate more animal species which are not yet introduced
into the centre.
On top of the solar system available at the centre, a brand new generator
should be introduced to replace the old one. Power shortage has in most cases
hindered work at the centre.
The centre should give its volunteers and trainees barges to identify them from
the rest of the visitors visiting the centre.
The centre should also try to develop the beach which may act as a
recreational centre for the visitors and in turn support the restaurant hence
generating more income to the organization.
The guides should be provided with specific uniforms for easy identification by
the visitors.
The centre should have one central store so as to ease the work of the store
keeper and may be the centre should also employ someone as the assistant store
keeper because the stores workload is too much for the one available store
keeper.
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 The centre should try to introduce more animal species in the centre since
many visitors ask for them like the tigers, cheaters among others which are not
available at the centre.
The difficulty of obtaining internship placements to different organizations can
contribute to the students failure of the course, so I would recommend the faculty
(university) to always get involved in making arrangements with the outside
organizations to obtain internship placements for their students.
Only one time students go to the training is not enough for them to gain
enough practical experience, and so, the university should find a way of increasing
on the number of times students go to the field
There is great need to facilitate students during internship. This is because
students when go for internship may be in need to buy some gadgets to use for
example flash disks, papers, printing the report among others which sets back
quality of a report.

2.6 Conclusion

The internship exercise was mainly to enable me acquire practical skills and link
theory to practice in the real world so as to meet the labour market needs. I have
been able to acquire practical skills like loan processing, record keeping and data
analysis, customer care, monitoring and evaluation techniques among others.

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 APPENDIX

THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Administrative asst (1)

(1)

Manager finance and

Manage/Animal & Manager information &
administration (1)
Horticulture (1) education (1)

Veterinari Education Grants Marketing Admin

an (1) Officer (1) officer (1) officer (1) officer/HR (1)

Veterinary Horticulturali
Technician st

Farm Education Warden Maintenan ICT asst Accounts

supervisor asst (2) (1) ce (1) asst (3)
(1) supervisor

Carpenter (1)
Animal keepers (8) Elect technician (1)

Driver /
Office Attendant

22