Since the ratification of the Convention on the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in 2009. The following have been achieved;
Uganda has established an environment in which the viability of the intangible cultural heritage can be assured in line with the Uganda National Culture Policy. There is now in place a National Strategy on inventorying intangible cultural heritage to guide the preparation of inventories for the country in future. Government further in 2013, enacted the Geographical Indications Act. A national mainstreaming manual for culture in the District Local Governments was developed and is being used in capacity building activities.
Capacity building activities of the communities, district local governments and NGOs has been carried out by both Government agencies, NGO’s and Uganda National Commission for UNESCO. Mainly on the content of the conventions on safeguarding the ICH, in inventorying skills but also in implementing other safeguarding measures and preparation of nomination files.
The first volume of the National Inventory on intangible cultural heritage with has established as a tool for safeguarding ICH and a databank has been established and can be accessed through Ministry website http://www.mglsd.go.ug/contents/ich.html. This provides reference point for further research and safeguarding.
Intense campaigns and awareness raising to inform the public through electronic and print media about the importance of the intangible cultural heritage in the sense of the 2003 Convention. Specifically on barkcloth, the makers have formed groups, Bark-cloth making is now publicizing and included in other information materials, such as a brochure and information boards. There is increased demand for the material beyond the original purposes it used to be for and different and new types are being developed and researched on.
A total of four NGOs are now accredited to the Convention to provide technical advice to the Committee. They are working with the communities to raise the visibility of intangible cultural heritage at the community level. Due to the work of the NGO’s and awareness raised at the community and district level on the need to safeguard intangible cultural heritage five (5) elements have been inscribed to the list of elements in need of urgent safeguarding since 2012. only one element is on the representative list and none in the Best practices list.
Uganda has also benefited from the international assistance fund which led to the National inventorying of ICH in four communities in Uganda, two preparatory assistance for the nomination of elements to the urgent safeguarding list, one for the safeguarding of the element to the urgent safeguarding list and another under the Bilateral arrangement. This have greatly contributed to the success of the implementation of the Convention and the viability of the intangible cultural heritage in the country.
A few challenges still remain. The is need to continually raise and sustainably produce information to share with all the different communities. There is also need to continually strengthen the role of District Local Governments on the implementation of the Convention.
The absence of developed orthography among some communities, thereby becoming very difficult for them to write the inventory in their local language. This calls for more partnerships in training in language development.
There is still lack of enough trees to process the requisite materials for bark cloth making so this does not give an opportunity for many people to practice the skill. Secondly, as much as there are many youth who have been trained, there are many more who need to be trained in the art and skill of bark cloth making.