This year, the New Year joy came early at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) after Mutagamba, a healthy caged lioness at the facility, birthed a pair of bouncing cubs on Christmas Day. The lioness and mother to the twins, named after former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, the late Maria Mutagamba, has been protective of her new family ever since.
According to Eric Ntalubwa, the spokesperson of UWEC, also known as Entebbe Zoo, he says the new twin cubs account to the second litter for the seven-year-old Mutagamba. Her first litter came by two years ago including three cubs – Zuri, Paradise and Africa. They are all alive and growing-on well at the wildlife education centre. The birth of the twin cubs brings the total number of lions at UWEC to nine.
He further said that Mutagamba has proved to be a good mother and she is looking after the cubs.
The cubs were fathered by Letaba, a lion who perished after a road accident between Kampala and Fort Portal earlier last year. Mutagamba was produced by 13-year-old Biesa and was fathered by the late Kibonge.
The gender of the cubs has not yet been established by the caregivers and vets at UWEC because the mother does not allow any intrusion.
“We cannot tell the sex because the mother is very protective and does not allow intrusion,” Ntalubwa said, adding that the cubs are vulnerable and are protected by the lionesses.
“They will hide their cubs for six to eight weeks. Although the cubs are still in seclusion, the cubs are playful and are treating the patrons at the wildlife education centre to noises,” he added, saying that they will be unveiled to the public in the next two months after approval by the vets.
According to Musinguzi, since the cubs were born on Christmas Day, the cubs will be named Emmanuel and Manuela, along with other names depending on their gender. The names given to the animals depend on circumstances – some are named after personalities and sponsors.
“We respect the natural instinct of the mother and we cannot remove the cubs for the sake of determining their sex,” Musinguzi comment.
With the number of lions declining in the protected areas, a plan is being worked out with the UWA to re-introduce some into the wild.
About Guide2Uganda
Guide2Uganda (www.guide2uganda.ug) is the most comprehensive source of information about Uganda that exists on the web, with more content on Uganda and surrounding towns, attractions, museums and galleries than any other online guide that currently exists for Uganda as well as being a dynamic news and comprehensive events driven site with content being added daily.
According to WeFollow & Peer Index (whom both measure online influence) we are among the most influential online media organizations in Uganda. We were also awarded for ‘’Best Destination Website in Uganda’’ by Jumia Travel Uganda in the 2017-2018 Africa Travel Awards. If you are planning a visit to Uganda you can always reach us on; info@guide2uganda.ug
