Are you interested to participate in documentation of our culture? Here is the opportunity!

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) invites all people from Empaako communities interested in documenting their traditions to register officially at Engabu Za Tooro offices located at Plot 18 Kaija Road, Kabundaire. P. O Box 886, Fort Portal – Uganda. Or you can call on +256 (0) 483 422 187 or +256 (0) 772 469 751 or email to info@engabuzatooro.or.ug or engabuzatooro@gmail.com.

EZT poster

According to a statement from Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Executive Director, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki, Engabu Za Tooro is interested in people skilled in documentation like book writers, creative writers, professional videographers, professional photographers, visual artists, sculptors, song writers, composers, poets, ritual leaders, herbalists, presenters of cultural programs on electronic media, vernacular teachers and translators among others.

The deadline for official registration is 20^th June, 2018 and the official non-refundable registration fee is UGX 20,000 which will be put in the basket of the 20 percent community contribution since UNESCO is only contributing 80 percent for the revitalization and safeguarding of our cultures like the Empaako Intangible Cultural Heritage to enable people sustainably safeguard and revitalize their culture especially the Empaako naming system for generations.

Official announcement

The 20 percent contribution to UNESCO co-funded Empaako safeguarding and revitalization campaign is dubbed, “Tutemu engaro or Bacwezi njuna naagaawe otaireho.” Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) is accredited to offer advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention).

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted a decision to co-fund a two year project for the safeguarding of Empaako naming system during the 12^th session of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which was held in December, 2017 at the International Convention Centre located in Jeju Island in the Republic of South Korea.

Empaako is naming system whereby in addition to a family and given name, a child is given a special name called Empaako selected from a fixed and closed list of 12 (twelve) Empaako names shared by the entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.

This practice has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Bagungu, Ba Nya Mboga and Baziba located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively.

However, the Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language (Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization, abandoning our traditional rituals, weakening cultural institutions, and attack from modern religious extremist denominations. 

Click on the links below for the official announcements and the official registration form.

Official Announcement

Registration form (pg 1)

Registration form (pg 2)

“UNESCO co-funded Empaako safeguarding project should put emphasis on the youth so that it can be sustainably transmitted from generation to generation” Juliana Naume Akoryo.

The commissioner for culture in the Uganda ministry of Gender, Labour and social Juliana Naume Akoryo has appealed to the Empaako communities of the Banyoro, Batooro, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyabindi and Ba Nyamboga to put much emphasis on revitalizing culture among the youth and children so that culture can be sustainably transmitted from generation to generation since young people are the future leaders.

Juliana Akoryo (standing)

“Focus on the youth and schools so that culture is transmitted from generation to generation and it’s better to tap on the mostly used media by the youth especially social media like facebook, twitter and whatsapp so that young people can effectively be enlisted in the revitalization of their culture especially the Empaako Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)”Said Akoryo while speaking at the Empaako Project Management Committee (PMC) meeting at Garden’s Restaurant – Fort Portal on Wednesday, 23^rd May 2015.

Akoryo adds, “theEmpaako naming system is threatened with extinction especially from abandoning performance of cultural rituals like the Empaako naming, weakening cultural institutions like clans and family, declining Runyoro – Rutooro language, modernization and the emerging religious cults which criminalize the Empaakopractice.”

However, Akoryo cautioned members of the Empaako communities not to force communities which don’t susbscribe to Empaako to practice the Empaako naming ritual since Empaako is a cultural element and allegiance to culture is voluntary according to the Uganda constitution and other international human rights instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

The meeting which was attended by over twenty (20) people including the seventeen (17) member PMC from the Empaako communities, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda National Commission for UNESCO (UNATCOM), community coordinators and representatives from the district local governments of Kabarole, Hoima, Kamwenge and Ntoroko.

Participants who attended the PMC meeting taking a group photo

The PMC was also attended by representatives from Tooro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kingdom, Batagwenda Elders Forum, Batuku elder’s forum, representatives from the Banyabindi Development Trust and cultural practitioners and staff from Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action).

The meeting which was aimed at strengthening the stakeholders in the Empaako communities to enhance the observance of the Empaako naming rituals, strengthening the mechanisms of the community’s self-help mechanisms in safeguarding their own Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in the modern context and finally improving on the Empaako communities capacity to safeguard ICH in modern context.

The head of the Empaako Heritage Foundation Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali who also doubles as the Board Chairperson of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which is accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) while speaking at the meeting appealed to the people in the Empaako communities to contribute 20 percent since UNESCO is only contributing 80 percent for the revitalization and safeguarding of Empaako to enable people to sustainably safeguard and revitalize their culture especially the Empaako naming system for generations.

The program Officer of UNATCOM Mr. Darniel Kaweesi while speaking at the meeting appealed to people from the Empaako communities to keep scanning the environment and look for other Intangible cultural elements threatened with extinction so that they can be safeguarded before it’s too late. Mr. Kaweesi also appealed to the PMC members to come up with a manual targeting the safeguarding of Empaako in the district local governments of the Empaako communities so that Empaako safeguarding is embedded within the district local government workplans and budgets.

The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action), Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who emphasized that the PMC should work hard to ensure the project is effectively and efficiently implemented since the UNESCO co-funded Empaako safeguarding project which started in February 2018 and will only take 21 months.

Rwagweri Atwoki further cautioned PMC to avoid ‘killing’ this project especially now in its early stages by emphasizing that the project will be fully supported with funds from UNESCO, “if you want to kill Empaako, give them (people from Empaako communities) a belief that they will be assisted from outside (UNESCO)” Said Rwagweri Atwoki while speaking at the PMC meeting.

Stephen Rwagweri (in green suit) giving a media interview about the PMC meeting

Rwagweri Atwoki added, “the 20 percent contribution to safeguard and revitalize the Empaako ICH should be mobilized and managed locally by the different Empaako communities.”

So far, some of the key outputs of the Empaako safeguarding project are the establishment of the state of the art BIO pics documentation unit with high tech equipment at the secretariat, publication of the community based ICH documentation handbook of international standards and publication of rituals and ceremonies among Empaako communities.

In addition, other key outputs are making a video production on traditional rituals and ceremonies among Empaako communities adapted to different formats and audiences and establishment of the dissemination network involving electronic media, online media, publications agency system and spontaneous community meetings on the safeguarding and revitalization of Empaako in the Empaako communities in Western Uganda, Eastern DRC and Northern Tanzania.

While the representative from Bunyoro Empaako community appealed to the PMC to put up visible projects like naming forests with Empaako so that people from the Empaako communities can effectively and efficiently easily understand the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization of our cultures. 

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted a decision to co-fund a two year project for the safeguarding of Empaako naming system during the 12^th session of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which was held in December, 2017 at the International Convention Centre located in Jeju Island in the Republic of South Korea.

Empaako is naming system whereby in addition to a family and given name, a child is given a special name called Empaako selected from a fixed and closed list of 12 (twelve) Empaako names shared by the entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.

This practice has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Bagungu, Ba Nya Mboga and Baziba located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively.

However, the Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language (Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization, abandoning our traditional rituals, weakening cultural institutions, and attack from modern religious extremist denominations. 

“UNESCO co-funded Empaako project is aimed at empowering our people to take charge of their own destiny in safeguarding their very own culture.” Rwagweri Atwoki

The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to the Empaako communities to take charge of their own destiny in safeguarding their culture from extinction so that their culture is sustainably safeguarded and preserved for generations.

“We are not going to spoon feed our people in preserving their very own culture, we shall only empower our people to take charge of their own destiny in preserving their own culture for generations since the UNECSO co-funded project is temporary and only aimed at boosting us (Empaako communities).” Said Rwagweri Atwoki.

Rwagweri (seated) stressing a point at the meeting

Rwagweri Atwoki added, “UNESCO is only supporting us with 80 percent of the funds for 2 (two) years and we need to contribute the remaining 20 percent since it is our very own culture we are safeguarding from extinction and not the cultures of the Europeans and Americans who are providing the biggest chunk of the funds and soon we shall launch a campaign titled ‘Mucwezi njuna nagawe otaireho’ to mobilise resources to safeguard our very own cultural elements threatened with extinction like the Empaako Intangible cultural heritage.”

“We cannot do something for us without us and we need to start now and not later in mobilizing ourselves in safeguarding our culture and traditions from extinction through such campaigns like ‘Mucwezi njuna nagawe otaireho’. We already have solid evidence to show that cultures, clans or communities can be extinct especially when powerful ones come and take over the weak ones for instance the once powerful Bacwezi clan is no more. The once powerful Basongora community is fast sliding towards a cliff.” Said Rwagweri Atwoki while speaking at the Bagweri Clan function in Kitumba, East Division – Fort Portal Municipality.

Rwagweri Atwoki who is also a Mufumambogo and the head of the Bafumambogo clan in Tooro Kingdom whose totem is a buffalo further appealed to the people in the Empaako communities to seek inspiration from Buganda Kingdom whose ‘Etofali’ campaign has assisted them to revitalize their culture and develop as a community through mobilizing resources from Baganda themselves to restore Kasubi Royal Tombs and other Buganda royal cultural sites, starting of television and radio stations, universities and massive building projects among others.

Some of the clan members who attended the clan meeting

While speaking at a clan meeting for the Bagweri clan in Kitumba, East Division – Fort Portal Municipality on Sunday, 20^th July 2018, Rwagweri Atwoki highlighted 3 (three) signs to show that our culture is becoming extinct like abandoning our traditional rituals for instance the Empaako naming ritual, weakening family institutions like clans and families and displacement of people from their ancestral territories.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted a decision to co-fund a two year project for the safeguarding of Empaako naming system during the 12^th session of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which was held in December, 2017 at the International Convention Centre located in Jeju Island in the Republic of South Korea.

Empaako is naming system whereby in addition to a family and given name, a child is given a special name called Empaako selected from a fixed and closed list of 12 (twelve) Empaako names shared by the entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.

This practice has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Bagungu, Ba Nya Mbogaand Baziba located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively.

However, the Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language (Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization, abandoning our traditional rituals, weakening cultural institutions, and attack from modern religious extremist denominations. 

The one day Bagweri clan meeting which attracted over 100 clan members was organized by Bagweri Clan Brotherhood and co-supported by Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action).

The Bagweri clan brotherhood which is headed by Rugumayo Dominick Apuuli started in 2015 with an aim of revitalizing culture, strengthening Bagweri clan and empowering the Bagweri clan members economically through giving low interest loans to clan members from their SACCO.

According to the clan chairperson, Rugumayo Apuuli, since 2015, the Bagweri Brotherhood which operates in Busoro Sub County and Fort Portal Municipality in Kabarole district has helped in reducing conflicts among the Bagweri clan members through using the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism mostly arbitrating in disputes relating to land and family conflicts.

The organization has also assisted in preserving our traditional cultures especially through teaching children morals and African cultures like respecting old people and dressing among others. Children of the underprivileged clan members have also been supported with education scholarships and gifts given to the best performing students to encourage education of children among Bagweri clan members. 

Lastly, the Bagweri Clan brotherhood has also assisted in empowering the Bagweri clan members economically through giving low interest loans to clan memberswith locally generated funds from clan members to the Bagweri Savings, and credit cooperative organization (SACCO). 

Bafumambogo clan members launch an education fund for the underprivileged clan members

Bafumambogo clan members of the Lui Nyakaana lineage have launched an education fund called Lui Nyakaana Education fund to assist the underprivileged but willing and determined to study members of theBafumambogo clan. Lui Nyakaana who passed on in 1984 was buried at Mukunyu, Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District – Tooro Kingdom.

The education fund was launched at meeting held on Saturday, 12^thMay 2018 at Mukunyu in Kyenjojo district – Tooro Kingdom and presided over by the head of the Bafumambogo clan Mr. Stephen RwagweriAtwoki who is also a direct descendant of Lui Nyakaana and Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action).

The traditional ceremonial chair of Bafumambogo clan

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) is a Uganda cultural NGO accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) and currently is implementing a two year UNESCO co-funded project aimed at safeguarding the extinction of the Empaako Intangible Cultural Heritage among the Banyoro, Batooro, Banyabindi, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Batuku and Ba Nyamboga.

The function which was organized to inspire people of the Empaako communities to revitalize their culture by strengthening their family and clan systems was attended by hundreds of people including the Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese – Fort Portal Rt. Rev. Reuben Bizarwenda Kisembo and Mpumwirwe Alinaitwe Akiiki who is the head of the Bafumambogo clan in Mwenge County.

Also, the families of the direct lineage of Lui Nyakaana who attended the traditional function were the families of Kandole Phillip, family of Silas Ateenyi, family of Wenkya Nyansiyo, family of Emmanuel Kasangaki, family of Damiano Mubu and family of Yozefu Kasangaki who are direct descendants of Lui Nyakaana. During the function, the Empaako naming ritual was celebrated and Tooro traditional meals were also prepared.

The Lui Nyakaana education fund was launched by the head of the Bafumambogo clan in Tooro Kingdom – Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who is a Mufumambogo from Kajarwagonya, Rusekere in Kabarole District.

“We are launching the Nyakaana education fund because education is the key to success. The fund will only assist Bafumambogo clan members who are determined to succeed with their education.” Said Rwagweri Atwoki.

The Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo speaking at the function

The education fund is named after the late Lui Nyakaana because he supported valued and encouraged education not only for his children but also for other community members, relatives and clan members. In addition, Lui Nyakaana respected the preservation of our African culture especially the Runyoro – Rutooro language, traditional dressing, traditional meals and respected the traditional institutions especially clans and Tooro Kingdom.

The Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese who is also one of the prominent Mufumambogo clan and the treasurer of the Bafumambogo clan in Tooro Kingdom Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo while addressing the Bafumambogo clan members appealed to them to continue preserving their culture, educate their children and respect God in order for them to develop.

The Bafumambogo clan head, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki having a group photo with the family of Silas Ateenyi

Rwagweri Atwoki while addressing the Bafumambogo clan members indicated that our culture is threatened with extinction because of the weakening cultural institutionslike clan and family institutions, abandoning our rituals like the Empaako naming ritual and displacement of the people from their ancestral territories. Rwagweri appealed to the people from the Empako communities to double their efforts in strengthening their institutions especially their family and clan institutions, continue to perform their cultural rituals and desist from being displaced or detached from their ancestral territories.

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe perfoming

In addition, Rwagweri Atwoki also appealed to Bafumambogo clan members to embrace and support the UNESCO co-funded project of safeguarding the Empaako intangible cultural heritage especially through documentation through writing, music and drama among others since it is a cornerstone to the preservation of the Banyoro – Batooro heritage.

During the one day function which started at 10am and ended at 8pm with a traditional meat roasting event, taking of traditional beers and entertainenment with cultural music by Master Kalenzi, Kigambo Moses Araali and Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe.

“We need to start with strengthening our own clan and family institutions to revitalize our culture,” Says Rwagweri

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

It’s common sense that you can’t give what you don’t have, the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action), Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has today appealed to the people in the Empaako communities to start strengthening their clan and family institutions in order to revitalize their culture.

“To safeguard our heritage, we need to revitalize our cultural institutions right from families, lineages and clans.” Says Rwagweri Atwoki, who is also the head of the Bafumambogo Clan whose totem is a buffalo.

As an inspiration to other Empaako communities, clans, families and individuals, Rwagweri will officiate a function aimed at finding out the lineage of Lui Nyakaana of the Bafumambogo clan, celebrating Empaako inscription and performing of Empaako naming rituals among others. The function will take place on 12^th May, 2018 at Mukunyu Located in Kyenjojo district which is part of Tooro Kingdom.

Rwagweri’s action follows recommendations by clan leaders from Empaako communities in Western Uganda who attended a meeting facilitated by Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) held in Fort Portal on Saturday April 7^th, 2018.

The Traditional ceremonial chair of Bafumambogo clan

During the clan meeting, clan leaders recommended for the strengthening of our language, strengthening our institutions at both family and clan levels and also keep perfoming traditional rituals so that threats to the extinction of our culture like Empaako intangible tradition can be minimized.

Clan leaders also recommended the supporting of our traditional wear, strengthening our cultural morals especially among the youth and supporting our traditional meals.

In addition to Stephen Rwagweri, other prominent Bafumambogo clan members are Henry Kajura who is a former Governor Bank of Uganda and former cabinet minister in Uganda, Bishop Reuben Kisembo who is the current Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese - Fort Portal, Ategeka James Mugarama Akiiki who is the current district chairperson of Bunyangabu and Mr. Businge Prosper who is the former district Councilor Kabarole among others.

In addition to heading a cultural NGO and being a clan leader, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki is a social worker, book writer, broadcaster and currently implementing a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at safeguarding the extinction of the Empaako Intangible Cultural Heritage among the Banyoro, Batooro, Banyabindi, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Batuku and Ba Nyamboga located in Western Uganda and Eastern DR Congo respectively.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a decision to co-fund a two year project for the safeguarding of Empaako naming system during the 12^thsession of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which was held in December, 2017 at the International Convention Centre located in Jeju Island in the Republic of South Korea.

A buffullo - Traditional totem of Bafumambogo clan

Empaako is naming system whereby in addition to a family and given name, a child is given a special name called Empaako selected from a fixed and closed list of 12 Empaako names shared by the entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.

This practice has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in communities located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania.

However, the Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language (Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization and attack from modern religious extremist denominations. 

The commissioned Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) 4th Board of Directors (2018 - 2022).

The commissioned Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) 4th Board of Directors (2018 - 2022). 

Engabu Za Tooro is Accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention).