President Yoweri Museveni has urged traditional and cultural leaders to preserve Uganda’s heritage while leaving politics and administration to elected leaders.
Addressing the Cultural Leaders Conference at State House Entebbe, Museveni said cultural institutions should protect local languages, culture and indigenous knowledge.
“Our cultural leaders have an important role in preserving our languages, culture and indigenous knowledge, while leaving politics and administration to elected leaders,” he said.
Museveni hosted kings and other cultural leaders from across Uganda for the talks. He warned that tribal divisions undermine prosperity and called for stronger national and African unity.
He said indigenous societies had strong foundations in agriculture, livestock keeping, crafts, medicine and other specialised occupations, known as Emyooga.
However, he argued that tribal chauvinism and a lack of integration had weakened those societies.
“That is why the NRM emphasises patriotism and Pan Africanism. You need Uganda and Africa for your prosperity,” he said.
Museveni also urged cultural leaders to reject attitudes inherited from colonial rule that encourage Africans to look down on their heritage.
“We must reject the colonial mentality that makes Africans despise their own heritage,” he said.
He said discussions with the cultural leaders would continue the following day.
