Africa-Press – Uganda. President Museveni has commended Matongo Wood Works Company Limited, a Ugandan enterprise, for its role in reviving African heritage through the production of high-quality traditional household items.
The president, accompanied by his daughter Mrs. Natasha Karugire Museveni, made the remarks while meeting company owners Ms. Stella Teromu and Ms. Elizabeth Karunga at Mbale State Lodge.
President Museveni praised the duo for their creativity and dedication to restoring cultural pride through authentic wooden and clay utensils that once defined African homes.
“I want to congratulate you people. You have resurrected the African heritage of our people, which I have been trying to preserve since the 1940s,” Museveni said.“We used plates (Esiwani), clay bowls (Ebakuli), traditional pots (Enstimbo), and other traditional items. They were strong, durable, and part of our identity.”
The president noted that the influx of foreign products in the 1960s led to the decline of locally made household items, leaving only a few, such as the traditional milk pot (Ekyanzi), still in use.
“These imported items are just not good. Many peel, break, or are made from weak materials. Our local products were of very high quality,” he observed.
Museveni commended Matongo Wood Works for modernizing traditional craftsmanship while maintaining its authenticity, saying their work blends cultural identity with quality and innovation.
“I congratulate you for bringing something I have been talking about for years. What you are presenting to Ugandans is not just art—it is quality, identity, and pride. You are reviving African heritage,” he said.
The president also pledged government support for local producers who are contributing to reducing the country’s dependence on imported plastic and silicone products.
Ms. Stella Teromu, one of the founders of Matongo Wood Works, thanked the president for his recognition and encouragement.
“We thank the President for giving us this opportunity and for appreciating our work. He loves our products so much that he feels we should sell them globally,” Ms. Teromu said.
She explained that Matongo Wood Works, located in Naalya, Kampala, produces a variety of wooden and clay household items inspired by ancestral African designs but adapted for modern living.
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