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.