Contribute towards the safeguarding our culture by buying an Empaako jumper

EZT volunteer putting on Empaako jumper

The Executive Director Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action), Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to members of Empaako communities, well-wishers and tourists to contribute towards the safeguarding of our culture by buying Empaako jumpers at Engabu Za Tooro Offices in Fort Portal.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) has produced dozens of Empaako jumpers available for sale at Engabu Za Tooro head offices on Plot 18 Kaija Road, Kabundaire, P. O Box 886, Fort Portal - Uganda or they can call on +256 483 422 187 or +256 772 469 751 or email: info@engabuzatooro.or.ug and engabuzatooro@gmail.com

The jumpers are available in all colors like red, green, maroon, blue, white, grey and sizes. Each jumper has a single Empaako name preferred by the client and each jumper will cost UGX 60,000 which is part of the ‘Tutemu Engaro’ Campaign aimed at mobilizing local contributions towards the safeguarding of our heritage.

Empaako jumper with a customised Empaako name

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.

Empaako jumper available in different colors

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) is currently implementing a two (2) year UNESCO co-funded project aimed at safeguarding the Empaako naming system among the 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 which has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako communities.

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.

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.