President Museveni Presents Ugandan Culture and His Own Creative Works in Germany

President Yoweri Museveni recently inaugurated the first-ever Uganda Cultural and Tourism Festival in Munich, Germany. This three-day event serves as a platform for Ugandans living abroad, alongside tourism professionals, investors, and international friends of Uganda, to celebrate the nation’s vibrant cultural tapestry and its significant tourism attractions.

In a message delivered by Presidential Assistant on Music and Cultural Affairs, Ms. Mariam Ataho, President Museveni emphasized the critical role of cultural heritage preservation in fostering national identity, unity, and driving socio-economic progress. He shared his personal collections, comprising 127 songs and poems composed primarily by the Banyankore-Bahororo people, offering a glimpse into the historical and cultural landscape of the Interlacustrine Bantu communities.

These compositions, some dating back to the pre-colonial era, explore diverse themes including love, wealth creation, societal challenges like drought and conflict, and political narratives. President Museveni highlighted that many of these songs were traditionally accompanied by instruments such as the enaanga and engoma. He noted that Ms. Ataho, whom he described as a gifted singer, would perform some of these pieces for the festival attendees.

The President also disclosed a process initiated by his daughter, Natasha Karugire, to review and refine these musical and poetic works, aiming to remove any lingering tribal sentiments that might have been present due to historical divisions promoted by past monarchs. He sees this collection as a crucial part of a broader movement to safeguard indigenous culture against external influences that sought to replace local traditions with foreign norms.

This initiative to revive and promote traditional music is deeply personal for President Museveni, stemming from his early exposure to these melodies despite his mother’s initial reservations. His connection to these cultural expressions was rekindled in 1983 and has since evolved into a significant effort to preserve what he considers “superior” music for future generations.

The festival program includes cultural performances, tourism showcases, and business networking opportunities, all aimed at strengthening diaspora ties and positioning Uganda as a key destination for tourism and investment in Europe.

Source: State House Uganda