APPROVALThis report has been submitted for examination with the approval of supervisor.

On site supervisor ………………………………………

Signature…………………………………. Date ………………………..

Academic supervisor …………………………………………….

Signature ………………………………………. Date …………………

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DECLARATIONI 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

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTWith 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 CONTENTSAPPROVAL.......................................................................................................................................... i

DECLARATION.................................................................................................................................. ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................................... iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / ACRONYMS......................................................................................v

ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................................vi

CHAPTER ONE:..................................................................................................................................1

1.0 INTRODUCTON........................................................................................................................1

1.1 Location......................................................................................................................................1

1.2 Background of UWEC................................................................................................................1

1.3 UWEC’S mission........................................................................................................................2

1.4 UWEC’S VISION.......................................................................................................................2

1.5 UWEC’S MANDATED ROLES..........................................................................................2

1.6 UWEC’S CORE VALUES...................................................................................................2

1.7 Departments in UWEC..........................................................................................................3

1.7.1 Education department....................................................................................................3

1.7.2 business department......................................................................................................6

1.7.3 THE MAINTAINANCE DEPARTMENT....................................................................7

1.7.4 THE HORTICULTURE AND ANIMAL DEPARTMENT..........................................7

1.7.5 THE ADMINISTRATION............................................................................................8

1.8.0 Organizational analysis.................................................................................................8

1.8.1 UWEC’s SWOT Analysis is as follows:........................................................................8

1.9 Objectives of the training....................................................................................................10

SECTION TWO..................................................................................................................................11

2.1 Significance of the internship..............................................................................................11

2.2 Lessons learnt by the trainee while at UWEC.....................................................................11

2.3 Challenges faced by the trainee while at UWEC.................................................................12

2.4 Challenges faced by UWEC as an organization..................................................................12

2.5 Recommendations...............................................................................................................13

2.6 Conclusion................................................................................................................................14

APPENDIX.........................................................................................................................................15

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THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART..............................................................................................15

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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ABSTRACTI 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 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.

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CHAPTER ONE:

1.0 INTRODUCTON

1.1 LocationUWEC is located 34 km from Kampala Entebbe highway, 6 km from Entebbe airport. It occupies

32 hectares of land overlooking the magnificent Lake Victoria. It’s 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 UWECThe 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 1970’s and inadequate government funding led to

serious breakdown of infrastructure and loss of valuable animals. It continued run down until

the early 90′s 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 country’s

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 country’s biodiversity, to rescue and rehabilitate injured, orphaned and/or confiscated

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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 centre’s

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 UWEC’S 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 UWEC’S VISIONTo be the leading centre in biodiversity conservation in Africa.

1.5 UWEC’S 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.

Entertainment through provision of recreation parks for the public.

1.6 UWEC’S 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

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Will be the hallmark of UWEC’s dealings with all it’s 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 it’s 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.

1.7 Departments in UWEC

1.7.1 Education departmentEducation 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;

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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 students and volunteers who wish to do

their industrial training in various sectors like accounts, guiding and the likes.

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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 accommodation Ugandans Non Ugandans

Service apartments 30$ 40$

Bandas 20$ 30$

Dormitories 5$ 10$

Cubicles 10$ 20$

Side rooms 10$ 20$

Camping grounds 5$ per head 5$ per 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.

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

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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 departmentThe 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 UWEC’s website so that the clients from out side countries are able

to know much about the culture in UWEC.

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

Restaurant and canteen

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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. Zakayo’s 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 DEPARTMENTThis 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 DEPARTMENTThe 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 UWEC’s 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 ADMINISTRATIONThis 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 UWEC’s 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 Uganda’s 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

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 Amin’s time.

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

Inadequate funding for advertising, marketing and general awareness about UWEC, its

products and services

Under-developed recreation facilities like the children’s play area that still needs

development.

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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).

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,

NGO’s etc

Opening up of satellite centers

Staying distinctive from the rest because it’s 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 children’s play area, fun facilities, and activities

Sell and increase affordable accommodation as a package

Unrivaled customer care

Tap into market with more interesting programs like chimpanzee close up, exclusive

guided tours, keeper for the day etc

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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 county’s 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.

To gain exposure to the demand and challenges of the work place.

To obtain/acquire knowledge.

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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.

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.

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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

one’s 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

auditor’s 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.

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

Uwec’s animals are constantly being attacked and killed by the predators hence causing a

great loss to the center.

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Tourism being seasonal greatly affects UWEC’s 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 RecommendationsI 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

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (1) Administrative asst (1)

Manager information & education (1)

Manager finance and administration (1)Manage/Animal & Horticulture (1)

Education Officer (1)

Grants officer (1)

Veterinarian (1)

Marketing officer (1)

Admin officer/HR (1)

Veterinary Technician

Horticulturalist

Farm supervisor (1)

Education asst (2)

Warden (1) Maintenance supervisor (1)

ICT asst (1)

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

Driver / Office Attendant

Accounts asst (3)

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