Africa-Press – Uganda. Experts and stakeholders in the tourism sector have noted that culture is a great tool in the promotion of conservation efforts.
Speaking at a cultural symposium organized by Calsaar Cultural Initiative at Makerere University, Dr. Gladys Zikusoka a veterinarian, conservationist and founder of Conservation Through Public Health said culture helps promote and preserve wildlife.
“Out tribes and clans are named after wildlife, these respect them a lot. For example in Buganda we have the lion clan ‘Empologoma’ and people from this clan will always treasure and protect lions. In Buganda, people treasure the totems, in the end they preserve and conserve them,” Dr.Zikusooka said.
“With Culture tourism, people don’t have to only visit the gorillas but visit the communities. The community members will see the benefits and proceeds they get, in turn they will protect the protected areas and sites.”
Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda Luswata recently said promotion of culture is a viable way of conserving wildlife.
“Totems bring people of a clan together and also ensure respect of those animals( their totems). They also prevent other people from hurting those animals. In the end, the wildlife is protected,” she said.
Speaking at Makerere, Ronald Rimbosh Okello, a quality assurance officer at Uganda Tourism Board, said as communities living next to protected areas always protect animals since they are part of them.
“In my clan the lion is key to us, but the Rhino is also a symbol of our tribe. Since we live with them, we protect them so much.”
Barbra Babweteera, the CEO of the Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda said the country lacks culture related programs.
According to Babweteera, there is need to incorporate culture in the country’s education system , noting that absence of this is hindering culture and heritage sustainability.
She noted that as CCFU, they are engaging young people on heritage through building capacity of teachers and guardians.
Bashir Hangi, the Head of Communications at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, said UWA balances conservation and national development by identifying potential tourism sites and allocating space for tourism and conservation.
He revealed most of the protected areas are also home of key cultural and heritage sites, adding that with partners they are trying to map, and identify them for preservation.
The UWA spokesperson said some protected areas have being designated as key UNESCO sites to ensure they are protected.
“We are part of a number of conventions like UNESCO, some of our protected areas, like Rwenzori and Bwindi are UNESCO heritage sites.”
Steven Sekaggya, the founder of Calsaar Cultural Initiative that organised the symposium said culture is a source of livelihood in form of tourism.
He explained that each culture has unique attributes which can be harnesses , packaged and promoted as a unique tourism product , just like wildlife.
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