Gov't urged to empower cultural institutions to drive country's development agenda

By Julius Kitone | Thursday, November 9, 2023
Gov't urged to empower cultural institutions to drive country's development agenda
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Cultural enthusiasts and scholars have asked government to draft a supportive law that empowers cultural institutions to drive the development agenda of the country as culture has proved to be a tested unifying factor across board.

This has been exhibited in the way how cultural institutions have managed to successfully tame political and other forms of artificial differences to consolidate unity amongst their subordinates, cherish cultural values as well speak with a common voice when it comes to pushing any agenda.

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Culture is a unique trait that has since overpowered artificial differences across the board with the latest being the Kyabazinga's wedding of the century that is under pipeline.

This loyal wedding has seen people of different social, economic and political traits aside and push for a common agenda.

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Donation after donation, political party after political party , company after company all chanting the same vows, Kyabazinga's loyal wedding of the century.

"People strongly believe in their cultural institutions, identifies with them and have trust in their cultural leaders," Aggrey  Kibenge, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender said.

What happens within the reams of Kyabazinga's wedding is a replica of the broader pictures of the authority, trust ,respect and power that cultural institutions command over the societal people.

Busoga is not alone, Buganda commands economic harmony when it comes to luring her subjects into engaging in productive ventures.

"When it comes to sports, Masaza Cup is at the helm of all Ugandan premier league, 'Emwaanyi terimba' is strictly embraced and so other programs. Therefore,  Uganda is losing a lot as it doesn't involve cultural institutions in realizing development programs, " lawyer Elias Tumwebaze emphasized.

In the recent return of the omusinga wa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere to Kasese, the demographic exclusivity was witnessed on the streets eagerly involved in welcoming their cultural Leader.

Culture has also proved to an alternative source of survival for youth in the active employment.

Tuhaise Nicholas Sancto, operates a craft Shop at Sheraton Kampala, and yet kingdoms play a critical role in promoting tourism.

"I operate art and craft shop that deals in cultural stuffs, I earn a living and support communities where I buy the materials and products from. In addition I make many friends due to dealing in cultural amenities, " Tuhaise says.

With all these progressing without meeting any resistance from the subjects of the cultural institutions, the question lingers about what is so special about culture that often lands on soft grounds.

"Culture is a uniting factor, it is the primary identity. Religion, politics and others are just secondary artificial differences, " Dr. Milton Wabyona, a cultural scholar and performer at Makerere University observed.

Amidst challenge full political turmoils, differences and economic instability, government has been tasked to draft laws and mechanism that empower cultural institutions to direct enforce implementation of development programs initiated by government.

"As government we must harness the potential of the cultural.institutions as they are capable of steering the desired social economic transformation," the Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary, Aggrey Kibenge noted.

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