“Let’s not distort our Empaako heritage by using the wrong spellings” Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

 The right Empaako spellings on Empaako T-Shirt

The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to all people from the Empaako communities to desist from distorting the Empaako heritage by using wrong spellings. Rwagweri Atwoki emphasized that the right spellings for the 12 Empaako’s are Okaali, Acaali, Bbala, Apuuli, Araali, Abbooki, Adyeri, Abwoli, Akiiki, Amooti, Ateenyi and Atwoki.

The 12 Empaako names

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda among the communities of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda so as to enhance their capacities to transmit knowledge and skills to successive generations and to mobilise practitioners to revive the Empaako naming practice.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

The 12 Empaako’s are Okaali which is reserved for a king, Acaali, Bbala, Apuuli and Araali which are only reserved for men and finally, Abbooki, Adyeri, Abwoli, Akiiki, Amooti, Ateenyi and Atwoki for both men and women.

The Empaako monument in Fort Portal town

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 especially at clan and family levels and attack from modern religious extremist denominations.

German researcher conducts a study on culture at Engabu Za Tooro

A German researcher, Ms. Charlotte Lonitz from the University of Passau has interacted with Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) cultural practitioners, experts and staff to conduct a study aimed at assessing the potentials of harnessing Uganda’s cultural heritage for its socio-economic development.

Lonitz who picked interest to conduct her study at Engabu Za Tooro because of the organizations innovative ways in revitalizing culture in Uganda and using a cultural approach to development for instance safeguarding cultural folklore, folk art and folk traditions, promoting indigenous knowledge research, using culture to mobilise, develop and promote youth talents and creative enterprises for income generation, self-reliance and using culture to enhance a sense of identity.

Lonitz having a disussion with EZT staff

The German Researcher who will be in the country for 3 weeks 2^nd – 21^st June 2018 interacted with Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners, comedians and musicians like Mugabo Stephen Abboki, Nnansimbe Ruth Amooti, Kigambo Moses Araali, Ms. Rehema Kobusinge Adyeri, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki and Solomon Akugizibwe Apuuli and discussing with them how they are innovately using culture for development.

“I want to use my study to achieve awareness among economists, policy makers and the public in German to use culture as an approach to development because culture is a great resource for sustainable development since it’s a force for social inclusion and collective mobilization” Said Lonitz.

Engabu Za Tooro also uses cultural heritage to mobilise grassroot women for promotion of gender rights, equal participation and peaceful co-existence among communities.

Cultural heritage is also used by Engabu Za Tooro to promote good governance, public accountability, environmental sustainability, tourism and promotion of the rights of ethnic minorities and indigenous communities.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which is accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) and accredited as an observer of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) was founded in 1999 by University leavers led by Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki.

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda among the communities of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda so as to enhance their capacities to transmit knowledge and skills to successive generations and to mobilise practitioners to revive the Empaako naming practice.

Engabu Za Tooro awarded by the Catholic Church for promoting culture renaissance and revival in Uganda.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has been awarded by the Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal - Uganda for promoting cultural renaissance and revival inTooro region. Similar to what is happening in many communities in Uganda, Tooro culture has been declining because of weak institutions especially at clan and family levels, declining Runyoro – Rutooro language and abandoning the performance of cultural rituals like the Empaako naming ritual.

The Bishop of  Fort Portal giving out the award

While presenting the award on Sunday, 10^th June, 2015 to Moses Kigambo Araali, Engabu Za Tooro cultural musician, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert K. Muhiirwa appreciated Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) for revitalizing Tooro culture especially through cultural music, conducting indigenous knowledge research, safeguarding heritage like the Koogere and Empaako Intangible Heritage.

The Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese also appreciated Engabu Za Tooro for strengthening cultural institutions especially clans and families, strengthening Tooro language and reviving the performance of cultural rituals like the Empaako naming ritual among the Batooro, Banyoro, Basongora, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Batuku, Bagungu, Banyabindi, Ba NyaMboga and Baziba in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively.

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal also awarded EngabuZaTooro cultural musician Moses KigamboAraali for greatly promoting the music industry in Tooro region through his inspirational and motivational songs like Kihoire Mbogo Ya Mawu, otasomere oliwoha which motivated many people to appreciate education for development, Akaro Komugisa which was aimed at promoting tourism in the region, Itaka Kintu Kikuru aimed at inspiring people in the region to appreciate the value of land.

In addition to Kigambo Araali, other Engabu Za Tooro cultural musicians and comedians are Master Kalenzi popularly known for his Obu Nyamahunde and Busongora bwa Kogere songs, Kabagambe Salongo popularly known for his Akaracwa Omuhoro song and Zebidayo Mwesige Mukwikwi who is popularly known for his Akasindikaine comedy.

Listen to Engabu Za Tooro cultural music

The annual award was also attended by Uganda state minister for Culture Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, Edward Kawamara - the clan head of Bagweri, the head of the Empaako safeguarding committee – Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali, Rev. Fr. Fredrick Douglas Waako – the Director of social communications Commission at the Catholic Church, Richard Rwabuhinga Abboki – the district Chairperson Kabrole, Hon. Alex Ruhunda Akiiki – MP Fort Portal Municipality and other former political leaders like the former MPFort Portal Municipality – Henry Basaliza Araali and Former Fort Portal Mayor – Mr. Bob Kaganda among others.

EZT Cultural Troupe perfoming

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which is accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) and accredited as an observer of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) was founded in 1999 by University leavers led by Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who is its current Executive Director and also the head of the Bafumambogo clan in Tooro region.

The organization was initially founded as a University student transition movement with a purpose of orienting university leavers to indigenous culture and community development work in Uganda.

The core programmes of the organization are Indigenous knowledge research and safeguarding heritage, development of youth talents and cultural enterprises, using culture to sensitise communities on gender, using culture to promote peace, using culture to promote tourism, using culture to safeguard the environment, promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and finally using culture to promote good governance.

Engabu Za Tooro Certificate

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda among the communities of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Ugandaso as to enhance their capacities to transmit knowledge and skills to successive generations and to mobilise practitioners to revive the Empaako naming practice.

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.

Engabu Za Tooro ED training clan leaders

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. 

EZT staff appeals to human rights institutions and activists to put more emphasis on the cultural rights of indigenous and minority communities

While attending a two (2) days residential training on digital and physical safety, the cultural rights officer, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Solomon Akugizibwe appealed to human rights institutions and human rights activists to put more emphasis on the often‘ignored’in human rights circles the promotion of cultural rights and the rights of the indigenous peoples and minorities in Uganda.

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Officer rights, Solomon Akugizibwe at the training

“Profile communities of indigenous peoples and minorities especially in relation to the problems they face, campaign against exclusion, discrimination and violation of cultural rights of indigenous peoples and minorities” Said Akugizibwe

Akugizibwe adds “Expose violations and abuses of the cultural rights of indigenous peoples and minorities and also facilitate accessibility to legal and administrative services incase of desire for redress against violations.”

In the Rwenzori region, Western Uganda the Basongora, Batwa, Batuku and Banyabindi are some of the indigenous and minority communities who need urgent support in-terms of enhancing the promotion of their cultural rights so that they can be more empowered.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which is accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) and accredited as an observer by World Intellectual Property organization (WIPO) is already promoting the rights of some of the indigenous and minority communities through documentation of their intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding with funding from UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for instance the Koogere intangible cultural heritage especially among the Basongora.

Some of the participants at the training

Another intangible cultural heritage Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) is promoting is Empaako Intangible cultural heritage among the Basongora, Batuku and Banyabindi indigenous and minority community in the Rwenzori Region.

Defend Defenders trainer engaging the participants 

The two days training conducted on 5^th – 6^th June, 2018 at Rwenzori International Hotel, Kasese district which attracted thirty (30) human rights activists from Western Uganda and supported by Human Rights Centre, Defend Defenders and Freedom House was aimed at equipping CSO’s and HRD’s with knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their personal and digital security.

The training was also aimed at enhancing the HRD’s knowledge and understanding of the concepts of human rights and human rights defenders and their personal and digital safety strategies and finally the training was aimed at discussing and laying practical strategies for better networking amongst HRD’s and protection and promotion of human rights and the rights of HRD’s in Uganda.