A family from Basongora pastoral community donate a cow to the Tutemu Engaro Self-Help Cultural Fund

Mr. Monday Christopher signing in the contributions book

The family of Mr. Monday Christopher from has donated a cow to the Tutemu Engaro Self-Help Cultural Fund to enable Engabu Za Tooro safeguard heritage threatened with extinction like Empaako, African folklore and Koogere Oral Tradition among others.

Monday Christopher family donated a cow on Wednesday, 31^st July 2019 at their home in Muhokya, Mukisongora in Kasese district – Western Uganda.

Basongora is a pastoral community in Kasese district popularly known for practicing the Koogere oral tradition through social philosophy and folk expression. Koogere who was a female chief of Busongora about 1,500 years ago during the Chwezi Dynasty. Oral tradition describes her exceptional wisdom and the prosperity of the chiefdom through a series of narratives, which form part of the collective memory of Basongora and other communities like Banyoro, Batooro and Banyabindi.

Koogere Oral Tradition was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2015.

Contributions from the Tutemu Engaro Self-Help Cultural Fund will be used to offer at least 10 university scholarships to study Runyoro/Rutooro language to students and teachers of the language, extend Empaako programme to Basongora, Banyaruguru and Banyambooga of DRC and revitalize Traditional African folklore among others.

Selecting a cow to donate to the Tutemu Engaro

The Self-Help Cultural Fund was launched on 23^rd June 2019 by Engabu Za Tooro Board of Directors led by Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali. A grand book of contributions it is placed at Engabu Za Tooro offices and an individual, a family, clan, institution or organization can sign in by contributing not less than UGX 50,000. It will be closed on November 23^rd 2019 ahead of submitting report to UNESCO in December 2019.

Tutemu Engaro contributions book along with videos, books, visual art pieces and tangible items used in Empaako naming rituals will constitute historical symbols of Empaako UNESCO inscription and safeguarding programmes which will be achieved in local and international museums.

So far, millions of shillings have been contributed by people from across the country like the family of Omugurusi Isaya Kalya, the family of Dr. L.T Rubongoya, Mrs Munkancwango Beatrice, Mr and Mrs Christopher Monday Kazini, Hon. Mutunzo Peace Regis (Minister of state for Gender, Labour and Social Development and also woman MP Bunyangabu district), Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga Ateenyi (Mayor Fort Portal Municipality), Owek. Mwesige Zebidayo, Mr. Ernest Kalege, Mr and Mrs Eustakiyo Tibyolekezo Abbooki Omwitira.

Omugurusi Basaliza Rusoke (Muzeyi Kijana), Rev. Richard Baguma Adyeri, Ndahura II Kashagama cultural head of Busongora Cultural Institution, Kachaina Valentine Ateenyi, Ms. Mabiiho Winfred Baguma, Ms. Kagaba Vanice, Mary Tibamwenda, Mr. Eribankya Paul, Mr. Kagoro Peter, Mr. Richard Tooro, Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali and Mr. Kazooba Nyamuhanga have also contributed massively.

People can take their contributions at Engabu Za Tooro main offices located on Plot 18, Kaija Road, Kabundaire, Fort Portal – Uganda or contact the office on +256 (0) 483 422 187, +256 (0) 772 469 751 or Email: engabuzatooro@gmail.com

Engabu Za Tooro Culture Guide with the donated cow

The Tutemu Engaro Self-Help Cultural Fund is aimed at mobilizing local contributions of Uganda Shillings 200 million towards the budget of the UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 aimed at safeguarding and revitalizing Empaako naming system.

The fund will also establish modern mechanisms of mobilizing collective resources and initiating community funded projects of safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Inscription and to revitalize and entrench the community spirit of self-reliance and solidarity in safeguarding the community’s own Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Engabu Za Tooro 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 Organization (WIPO).

Currently, the organization is co-funded by UNESCO (Intangible Heritage Fund) and local contributions to revitalize and safeguard the practice of the Empaako naming system through community self-documentation.