KAMPALA - Ugandans have been
advised to borrow the good cultural values and norms from other communities to
unite and strengthen the continent. These were President Yoweri Museveni’s
remarks as he was launching the first privately owned cultural museum Igongo Cultural Centre,
located in Bihairwe near Mbarara municipality in Mbarara.
He said: “The African cultural heritage as well
as the African languages are very rich but need to be used positively. We must
borrow the good traits of each of the African communities and use them to
promote African unity and shun such values that may be of less importance in
the current times.”
The centre is owned by renowned publisher James
Tumusiime and it is the first of its kind in Uganda and in the East Africa
region. He said he founded the centre in order to promote culture as well as
serving as a hospitality and cultural education centre.
Museveni who was accompanied by his wife Janet
Museveni said the African heritage is an important tool for the African unity.
He stressed the importance of developing the rich African languages, saying
they could easily enrich communication if they are well developed and
documented for future generations.
Museveni who awarded certificates of recognition
for outstanding contribution in promoting the Kinyankole and Kikiga culture,
hailed Tumusiime for devoting his energy and resources to the resurrection of
the African culture.
He instructed the Ministry of Tourism and
Wildlife to support the cultural centre and asked the all Tourism bodies;
Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda wildlife Authority, and others to collaborate with
the existing cultural centres and rebrand Ugandan wildlife without subjecting
it to foreign branding and naming.
Tourism minister Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu appealed
for more funding to the ministry.
We urge all tourists to visit the centre and
experience the wonders of the ancient African heritage that still lives todate.
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