President says traditional institutions should concentrate on preserving African heritage, promoting wealth creation and guiding communities.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned traditional and cultural leaders against involvement in partisan politics, saying cultural institutions must respect the constitutional responsibilities of elected government structures.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day conference of traditional and cultural leaders at State House, Entebbe, Museveni said cultural institutions have distinct responsibilities that should not be confused with those of political leaders.
He urged traditional leaders to concentrate on preserving cultural heritage, promoting indigenous knowledge and providing guidance to their communities, while leaving legislation, public administration and other government responsibilities to constitutional institutions.
The President said cultural institutions could contribute to national development by mobilising communities for wealth creation, preserving traditional skills and promoting social cohesion.
He also called on cultural leaders to protect Africa’s historical identity, languages and customs, which he said had been affected by colonialism.
Quoting Matthew 19:6, Museveni said, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no man put asunder,” as he called for greater African unity based on shared history and cultural connections.
The President identified agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing, blacksmithing, carpentry, pottery and leather tanning among the traditional skills that cultural institutions should help preserve and pass on to younger generations.
He also urged cultural leaders to promote indigenous crops, livestock breeds and traditional food systems to improve agricultural production and household incomes.
Museveni outlined five historical missions which he said should guide Africa’s development: liberation from colonialism, democracy, economic prosperity, strategic security and African unity.
He argued that political independence must be supported by economic development and access to larger markets.
The President cited the East African Community, COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area as important arrangements for expanding trade and economic cooperation.
During the conference, cultural leaders proposed stronger partnerships with the government in agriculture, community industrialisation, tourism, skills development and women’s economic empowerment.
They offered to provide land for model agricultural farms and requested government support through improved seeds, livestock, irrigation equipment, agricultural machinery and extension services.
The leaders also proposed establishing community-based processing facilities for agricultural products, textiles, leather and other locally produced materials.
On cultural preservation, they called for the establishment of a Digital Cultural Park to document Uganda’s kingdoms, chiefdoms, historical sites, artefacts and indigenous knowledge.
They further announced plans to organise a Uganda National Cultural Festival in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The proposed festival would promote Uganda’s cultural diversity and support tourism, creative industries and local businesses.
The cultural leaders also appealed for government assistance to strengthen the Forum of Cultural Institutions, citing inadequate staffing, limited infrastructure and poor coordination among their challenges.
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, urged traditional leaders to work with the government in addressing gender-based violence, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, poverty and discrimination against persons with disabilities.
He also encouraged cultural institutions to support Uganda’s creative economy, particularly music, film, fashion, crafts and cultural tourism.
The two-day conference brought together traditional and cultural leaders from across Uganda to discuss their role in cultural preservation, community development and national economic transformation.
