Report on the status of an element inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding
A. Cover sheet
A.1.
State Party
Name of State Party
Uganda
A.2.
Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession
This information is available online.
Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession
2009-05-13
A.3.
Element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List that is the subject of this report
Name of element
Empaako tradition of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of western Uganda
Inscribed in
2013
A.4.
Reporting period covered by this report
Please indicate the period covered by this report.
Reporting period covered by this report
April 2015 - December 2017
A.5.
Other elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, if any
Please list all other elements from your country inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, together with the year of inscription; for multinational elements, please indicate the other States concerned.
Other elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, if any
Bigwala, gourd trumpet music and dance of the Busoga Kingdom in Uganda (2012)
A.6.
Executive summary of the report
Please provide an executive summary of the report that will allow general readers to understand the current status of the element, any positive or negative impacts of inscription, the implementation of safeguarding measures during the reporting period and their possible update for the following years.
Executive summary of the report
This report concerns implementation of safeguarding measures for Empaako tradition of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batagwenda, Batuku and Bunyabindi of western Uganda which was, in December 2013, inscribed on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This is the first ordinary report but the second one following an extra ordinary which was approved in December 2015.
Empaako is a naming system whereby in addition to the family and given names, a child is given Empaako name selected from a fixed list of 12 of them, shared by the entire society. The use of Empaako is a declaration of respect, endearment or affection and the practice is associated with ceremonies and practices of which meaning form the basis of belief systems of the concerned communities. The practice is threatened by loss of knowledge of associated ceremonies, abandoning observance of these ceremonies, declining use of its language and attack from religious groups.
Safeguarding plan adopted at inscription and revised immediately after, outlines capacity building of practitioners, comprehensive documentation of ceremonies and practices, mobilization of practitioners to revitalize performance of naming ceremonies and raising awareness as key safeguarding measures. Others include linking its Safeguarding and documentation outputs to education, training scholarship for its language professionals, linking the meaning of the practice to programing on peace building and environmental sustainability and nomination for inscription on extended basis to include the emerging claimant bearer communities in the neighboring state territory of Democratic Republic of Congo.
The extra ordinary report covered 16months from inscription and mainly realized participatory review of the safeguarding plan, establishing mechanism for effective participation of all stakeholders and adopting a fundraising strategy that included elaboration and submission of an IAR to UNESCO. Other realized results were mobilization of practitioners through weekly radio talk shows, and monthly clan meetings and raising of awareness through several events which were celebrating inscription and artistic productions on the element by performing artists and constructing of an inscription memorial monument in the major town. A pilot project of using the meaning of the practice to promote tree planting, laid a foundation for realizing the result of adapting the meaning of this cultural practice into programming on peace building and environmental sustainability.
The current report which builds on the extra ordinary one that was approved in 2015, covers a period of two years and nine months from April 2015 to December 2017.
In this period the mobilization of practitioners to revitalize observance of naming ceremonies continued through the weekly radio talk shows and monthly clans meetings which activities are well adapted to the local resources. This has had a scale up effect of adopting a standing agenda item on encouraging revitalization of naming ceremonies, in every individual clan assemblies. Raising awareness continued through on going distribution of brochures and the produced artistic pieces which are integrated in community social activities, informal education and entertainment.
Empaako platform which is an online community and data bank was developed and launched in preparation for broad dissemination of documentation and effective sharing among the bearers of Empaako naming system wherever they live. Empaako heritage conservation project on using the cultural meaning of the practice, to promote tree planting was scaled up. The reporting period also realized review and follow up of the IAR from UNESCO up to getting approval, among other fundraising activities. This reporting period has successfully prepared for, and will be immediately followed by a full scale safeguarding project co-funded by Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. The 21 months project, will consolidate and bring to a climax, most of safeguarding measures proposed in the general safeguarding plan.
A.7.
Contact person for correspondence
Provide the name, address and other contact information of the person responsible for correspondence concerning the report.
Title (Ms/Mr, etc.)
Mr
Family name
Rwagweri
Given name
Stephen
Institution/position
Executive Director
Address
Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action)
P.O. Box 886
Fort Portal
Telephone number
+256 772469751
E-mail address
engabuzatooro@gmail.com
Other relevant information
Mr
B. Status of element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List
Refer to the nomination file or to previous reports, if any, as the basis for reporting on the current status of the element, and report only on relevant changes since the date of inscription on the List or since the previous report. Nomination files, specific timetables and earlier reports, if any, are available at https://ich.unesco.org or from the Secretariat, upon request.
The State Party shall pay special attention to the role of gender and shall endeavour to ensure the widest possible participation of the communities, groups and, where applicable, individuals concerned as well as relevant non-governmental organizations during the process of preparing this report, and is asked to describe how it has done so in point D below.
B.1.
Social and cultural functions
Please explain the social and cultural functions and meanings of the element today, within and for its community, the characteristics of the bearers and practitioners, and any specific roles or categories of persons with special responsibilities towards the element, among others. Attention should be given to any relevant changes related to inscription criterion U.1 (‘the element constitutes intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention’).
Social and cultural functions
This report concerns Safeguarding Empaako Tradition of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda which, in 2013, was inscribed on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Empaako is a naming system whereby in addition to the family and given names, children are given one name from a fixed list of 12 collectively called Empaako and shared across communities. They include Okaali which is exclusively for a king, Araali, Acaali, Bbala, and Apuuli which are exclusively for males, and Ateenyi, Akiiki, Abwoli, Atwoki, Adyeri, Amooti and Abbooki which can be given either sex.
Empaako practice is transmitted through a naming ceremony which has several rituals that have slight variations from community to community. The meaning and interpretations of the rituals are linked to the value systems of these communities. In the naming ceremony, the paternal aunties receive the baby and examine its features. Any resemblance to the living or living dead relatives forms the basis of the choice of Empaako to give the baby.
After discussion on proposals, the clan head rules and declares the chosen Empaako by addressing it directly to the baby. A shared meal of millet and smoked beef follows, gifts are presented to the baby and tree or banana is planted in its honour.
In case of a child born outside own clan or an out sider who comes to live in a community, a ceremony which involves sharing Omwani (coffee barriers) and milk and kubukara (a reception ritual involving sitting on the lap of the head of clan to receive blessings) is organized.
In greeting, the two address each other using Empaako and one asks Empaako only on first interaction. Addressing using someone’s exact Empaako, affirms that 'I know and recognize you as person' since they are only 12 shares by entire society.
The use of Empaako helps to define and categorize a web of social relationships and interactions. Addressing using Empaako to a parent, an elder, a leader, a spirit medium or god is a declaration of respect and honour and to a lover, a tender minor, a sick, a suffering, a missed or dead dear one is an expression of love or affection. Empaako is also used in expressing thanks, bidding farewell and appealing for favour from both human and super human beings.
The Empaako is used to affirm human dignity and enforce the acceptable code of social conduct. For instance when some one is found in unacceptable behavior will be asked "Do you have Empaako? "This sends serious message of caution. In the minds of the bearer, addressing using Empaako suspends other factors in order to affirm the supremacy of the common principle of humanity. This is why addressing by Empaako has an effect of diffusing and neutralizing tension and anger and then Empaako is used as a tool in the mechanisms of community conflict mitigation and resolution.
B.2.
Assessment of its viability and current risks
Please describe the current level of viability of the element, particularly the frequency and extent of its practice, the strength of traditional modes of transmission, the demographics of practitioners and audiences and its sustainability. Please also identify and describe the threats, if any, to the element's continued transmission and enactment and describe the severity and immediacy of such threats, giving particular attention to any strengthening or weakening of the element’s viability subsequent to inscription.
Assessment of its viability and current risks
Many people in Empaako Communities are increasingly losing knowledge and meaning of the naming ceremonies and the associated practices and as a result don’t give their children Empaako and the adults who already had it increasingly stop using it in daily life. Some of those who are still giving and using Empaako have abandoned the naming ceremonies and Empaako given without the naming ceremonies is culturally regarded as meaningless and indeed the cultural meaning of the practice is rooted in the naming ceremonies.
The knowledge of the Empaako naming ceremony has not been documented as the number of elders with such knowledge increasingly reduces. Any cultural knowledge that is only transmitted orally in these communities is not accessible to the young people.
However the nomination exercise, inscription and participatory elaboration of international assistance request for documentation of Empaako, has raided awareness and interest and as a result people begin to exchange and scale up existing knowledge and carryout some documentation at individual levels. This individual desire to document has been consolidated into the design of a comprehensive and broad participatory documentation project that will begin in 2018.
Two religious groups preach against Empaako practice and their followers, who are estimated to 700,000 people out of a population of 5,000,000, do not give Empaako to their children and abandon their own on the day of conversion. The raised awareness after inscription and unveiled meaning of the practice, are beginning to form base for appreciation of the practice and dialogue with those groups.
The language of Empaako practice has been declining and fashionable expressions from the advancing dominant languages were replacing the social roles of Empaako practice like greeting and expressing affection and respect. Inscription of Empaako has raised appreciation of the traditional culture and bearers begin to value their language and use it as much as possible.
B.3.
Implementation of safeguarding measures
Please report on the safeguarding measures described in the nomination file, and previous report, if any. Describe how they have been implemented and how they have substantially contributed to the safeguarding of the element during the reporting period, taking note of external or internal constraints such as limited resources. Include, in particular, information on the measures taken to ensure the viability of the element by enabling the community to continue to practise and transmit it. Include the following detailed information concerning the implementation of the set of safeguarding measures or safeguarding plan:
B.3.a.
Objectives and results
Indicate what primary objective(s) were addressed and what concrete results were attained during the reporting period.
Objectives and results
Primary Objectives addressed
1- Increasing availability and accessibility for the present and future generations, to knowledge and information about ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system for its bearer communities.
2- Mobilization of practitioners and custodians of the traditional Empaako naming system for revitalization of performance of its associated ceremonies and observance of its practices.
3- Raising awareness of the bearers and stakeholders of the traditional Empaako naming system about its meaning and social values.
4- Adapting the meaning and social values of the traditional Empaako naming system to peace building and environmental sustainability programmes.
Results attained during the reporting period
1. An international assistance request on comprehensive documentation of ceremonies and practices as central safeguarding strategy successfully evaluated and approved for funding from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.
2. An online platform for broad dissemination of documentation on Empaako naming system and sharing among bearers developed and launched.
3. Monthly clans’ representatives’ meeting and provision for space on agenda of individual clan assemblies consolidated as mechanisms for encouraging revitalization of Empaako naming ceremonies, sharing best practices and monitoring changes towards total restoration of viability of Empaako naming system.
4. The level of awareness and positive appreciation of the need to safeguard Empaako naming system increased among the bearers, resulting in micro-safeguarding actions at individual and small group levels.
5. Empaako Heritage Conservation Project which is using the meaning of Empaako naming system to promote environmental sustainability scaled up to 500 families.
B.3.b.
Safeguarding activities
List the key activities that were carried out during this reporting period in order to achieve these expected results. Please describe the activities in detail and note their effectiveness or any problems encountered in implementing them.
Safeguarding activities
1. Preparing for implementation of a project titled “Community-self documentation of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.” This was elaborated and submitted as an International Assistance Request targeting eighty percent co-funding from the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage fund. Activities which prepared for its implementation has included; following the evaluation process at UNESCO and providing additional information as was being requested, mobilizing and preparing the twenty percentage communities and local government co-funding and consolidating the structures and mechanisms for its implementation.
2. The Empaako heritage conservation project which was initiated and piloted on a small scale in 2015, has been scaled up to cover more families. The project which is implemented in one of the give Empaako Communities and funded by the Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda, involve using the planting of a tree as one of the rituals in Empaako naming ceremony to promote tree planting linked to environmental sustainability. The project avails tree seedlings to families to plant trees driven by beliefs and values of Empaako naming system. The number of participating families has grown to 500.
3. The monthly clans’ representative meetings has been consolidated and improved with new roles. They now share best practices in observing naming rituals in daily life of communities, report on changes as a result of raised awareness and have influenced provision of standing agenda item in individual clan assemblies, dedicated to encouraging observance of naming ceremonies whenever a child is born. It is also a standing consultation forum in elaborating proposals and reports.
4. Developing and launching Empaako platform www.empaako.org which is an online community and database of bearers of Empaako naming system. The platform is going to be an online repository of the outputs of the comprehensive documentation for broad sharing, dissemination and cultural engagement among the bearers of Empaako naming system both living in the land of Empaako and in diaspora. It will also enable sharing of cultural materials, information and forming subgroups for cooperation on cultural activities.
5. Guiding integration of education and information on Empaako naming system into routine community activities and processes.
Visual and performing artists have produced on Empaako naming system and now knowledge and information about it, are part of the daily community entertainment and informal education. The built monument in memory of Empaako inscription, in the main city in the land of Empaako, has evolved as a place of memory and cultural education and the community groups adopting it as identity symbol and a stop centre for visitors and tourists. All exhibitions at local and national levels have incorporated material items and symbols on Empaako naming system. This is in addition to all formal clan meetings, adopting a standing agenda item on encouraging revitalization of Empaako naming system as a niche of community’s identity and heritage. Guiding this integration has involved mobilizing the artists, interesting them into the theme, giving them the message to compose on and providing logistical facilitation as incentives.
6. Distribution of the developed brochure.
There has been wide distribution of the brochure which was produced as a summarized statement of Empaako naming system element because there is increasing search for information about the element by both the bearers and the visitors, following the inscriptions.
7. Weekly two hour radio talk show.
This is organized by Engabu Za Tooro NGO and attracts participation of all stakeholders. It is a forum of exchanging knowledge and information on safeguarding the Empaako and intangible Cultural Heritage in general.
8. Technical guidance and monitoring
The personnel of the department of Culture and Gender in the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development periodically move to the communities with a monitoring questionnaire to collect information on what is being done, give technical guidance and encouragement to practitioners and activity implementing groups. The collected information also feed into planning and report development.
As a challenge, the small group and individual safeguarding activities before a comprehensive participatory and focused documentation project have an aspect of distorting the overall safeguarding strategy of the element. It is only hoped that this challenge will be overcome when the main documentation project kicks off early 2018.
B.3.c.
Participation of communities, groups or individuals in the safeguarding activities
Describe how communities, groups or, if appropriate, individuals as well as relevant non-governmental organizations have effectively participated, including in terms of gender roles, in the safeguarding measures. Describe the role of the implementing organization or body (name, background, etc.) and the human resources that were available for implementing safeguarding activities.
Participation of communities, groups or individuals in the safeguarding activities
Representatives of community groups as clearly demonstrated in the statement of activities above, initiated, executed, and contributed funding to most of the activities done.
Engabu Za Tooro – Tooro Youth Platform for Action is a Ugandan NGO founded in 1999. Its mission is strengthening the capacity of communities through development of cultural enterprises and promotion of folk Art and indigenous knowledge research.
The organization is governed by a nine member Board of Directors and Annual General Meeting of 200 grassroots’ art and cultural groups, Youth, women and elders associations.
For the last 15 years it has continuously implemented projects in the areas of cultural research, documentation, inventorying, production of folklore, professionalizing cultural service providers and promotion of cultural enterprises and performing Arts.
The organization has been funded by the international partners including Hivos (Ten years), Common Wealth Foundation, Prince Claus Fund for Cultural and Development, CIDA, Concern Worldwide and Goal-Uganda among others.
It is a member of several national and international networks in the fields of Art and Culture. Since 2009 it has been accredited and participates, in observer capacity, in the discussions at WIPO aimed at establishing an international instrument for protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. It was recommended in 2010 and subsequently accredited in 2012 to offer advisory services to the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the ICH. Since then, it has participated in most of the convention’s statutory meetings, activities of the forum of the NGOs’ accredited to the committee and two international capacity building workshops on the convention. At national level, it has supported the State Party to implement the convention through raising awareness, facilitating several inventorying projects and facilitating nomination of two elements so far and both of which are inscribed, currently facilitating implementation of Post-inscription safeguarding programmes.
The organization is currently holding the chair of a national forum of researchers, experts and scholars of intangible cultural heritage which promotes understanding of ICH and implementation of its UNESCO Convention in the country.
Engabu Za Tooro currently has a core team of 4 senior staff and a net work of volunteers and consultants.
The roles of implementing organization has included the following among others
• Providing secretariat for coordination of stakeholders who include different participating community, government and NGO institutions, and UNESCO secretariat.
• Providing technical backing and facilitation to community- led safeguarding initiatives.
• Ensuring strategic focus and complementarily of different initiatives and contributions towards an effective general safeguarding programme.
• Ensuring financial and technical accountability to the activities that are centrally organized.
B.3.d.
Timetable and budget
Indicate in a timetable when each activity was implemented and the funds that were used for its implementation, identifying the source of funding for each (governmental sources, in-kind community inputs, etc.).
Timetable and budget
TIME TABLE
Duration: April 2015 to December 2017
No. Activity Time Frame Responsible Institution(s)
1. Reviewing International Assistance Request.
Mobilizing local Co-funding June to Sept 2016
May to Dec. 2017 Engabu Za Tooro
Engabu Za Tooro
2. Empaako Heritage Conservation Project. April 2015 – Dec 2017 The Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda, Bunyoro – Kitara Kingdom.
3. Monthly Clans’ meetings April 2015 – Dec 2017 Communities and Clans
4. Development & Launching Empaako platform. www.empaako.org
June to Dec 2016 Ultimate Media Consult & Engabu Za Tooro
5. Guiding integration of safeguarding into community processes. April 2015 to Dec 2017 Engabu Za Tooro
6. Distribution of Brochures April 2015 to Dec 2017 Engabu Za Tooro
7. Weekly radio talk shows. April 2015 to Dec 2017 KRC fm / Engabu Za Tooro & sponsoring companies
8. Monitoring & Technical guidance. April 2015 to Dec 2017 Min. of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
BUDGET.
Duration: April 2015 to December 2017
No. Activity Funds in US$ Sources
1. Reviewing International Assistance Request.
Mobilizing local Co-funding 2,000
500 Engabu Za Tooro
Engabu Za Tooro
2. Empaako heritage conservation Project. 5,000 The Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda, Bunyoro – Kitara Kingdom.
3. Monthly Clans’ meetings 5,000 Communities and Clans’
4. Development & Launching Empaako platform. www.empaako.org
10,000 Ultimate Media Consult & Engabu Za Tooro
5. Guiding integration of safeguarding into community processes. 15,000 Engabu Za Tooro
6. Distribution of Brochures 500 Engabu Za Tooro
7. Weekly radio talk shows. 20,600 KRC fm / Engabu Za Tooro & sponsoring companies
8. Monitoring & Technical guidance. 8,000 Min. of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Total 66,600
NOTE TO THE TIME TABLE AND BUDGET
The activities are in two categories;
Those which were centrally initiated and coordinated by the lead implementing agency like reviewing international assistance request, mobilizing local co-financing resources, monthly clans meetings, Development of Empaako platform, distribution of brochure, guiding integration and weekly radio talk shows.
Those initiated voluntarily by other stakeholders like Empaako heritage conservation project. These had theirown independent timetable and budgets. The exercise of elaboration of report only captured and incorporated summaries of their time and resource estimates.
B.3.e.
Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities
Provide an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the activities undertaken to achieve the expected results and of the efficiency of the use of funds for implementing the activities. Please indicate how the activities contributed to achieving the results and whether other activities could have contributed better to achieving the same results. Also indicate whether the same results could have been achieved with less funding, whether the human resources available were appropriate and whether communities, groups and individuals could have been better involved.
Overall effectiveness of the safeguarding activities
This report covers the period of 2 years and 9 months from April 2015 to December 2017. As it can be noted, more activities could have been done in that period. The majority of activities done like monthly clans meetings, on going distribution of brochures, weekly radio programmes, and reviewing IAR are those that are easily integrated in the routine work of participating NGO’s and the communities. The only special actions were development of online platform and Empaako heritage conservation project. So the period was constrained by limited funding to be utilized efficiently.
The results make partial contribution towards the primary objectives they target which means more actions are needed to completely realize the objectives.
The results of this reporting period have prepared a good ground for a full scale project that will sufficiently realize most of the objectives of the overall safeguarding plan.
Reviewing the IAR submitted to UNESCO and which is on comprehensive documentation and realizing its approval is a partial result, contributing to the objective of increasing availability of and accessibility to knowledge of the practice for the present and future generations. It equally laid the ground for capacity building of the practitioners, mobilization for revitalization of the ceremonies and practices and raising the awareness, all of which are key components of the intended project.
Development of Empaako platform was strategic to prepare and build towards impactful documentation, dissemination, raising awareness and mobilization of the bearers.
This online project for sharing was also cost effective in the situation of limited resources.
The Empaako heritage development project piloted in one community is building towards the objective of integrating the cultural meaning of Empaako naming system to programming on peace building and environmental sustainability. However, this action being piloted in only one of the five participating communities, is too limited and need to be scaled up to more communities. Moreover in the overall safeguarding plan as presented at inscription and later revised, the result of integration of the element in those sustainable development issues, is supposed to be realized last in the chronological order.
The element need to be first sufficient restored through comprehensive documentation, awareness raising, capacity building, mobilization for revitalization and contributing to strengthening development of its language, before its meaning can be adapted and used in sustainable development issues. The plan which is supposed to attract contribution from diverse sources cannot centrally be controlled on what should be done and when. Using the meaning of this practice to pursue sustainable development issues, is an aspect that can attract participants who even may not be in the cultural sector and who cannot be attracted by the direct cultural actions like documentation. Yet those who can fund the direct cultural actions like government and UNESCO have procedures which take long.
However with the UNESCO approval of a documentation project to begin early 2018, this challenge is now-overcome.
The inscription of Empaako naming system and subsequent safeguarding activities, have raised awareness beyond the five participating communities. More communities even beyond the territory of Uganda and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo have claimed that they are also bearers of Empaako naming system and would like to be included in the inscription file. Inventory and nomination of ICH element, is demand driven from the concerned communities and such communities need to have information before a demand is generated in them. Making use of paragraph 16-19 of the Operational Directives, a fresh nomination of a multi national file on an extended basis, to cover those communities, may be carried out alongside implementation of the current safeguarding plan.
Rwagweri
C. Update of the safeguarding measures
C.1.
Updated safeguarding plan
Please provide an update of the safeguarding plan included in the nomination file or in the previous report. In particular provide detailed information as follows:
- a. What primary objective(s) will be addressed and what concrete results will be expected?
- b. What are the key activities to be carried out in order to achieve these expected results? Describe the activities in detail and in their best sequence, addressing their feasibility.
- c. How will the State(s) Party(ies) concerned support the implementation of the updated safeguarding plan?
Updated safeguarding plan
a) Primary Objectives
1- Increasing availability of and accessibility to information and knowledge of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system for its bearer communities for the present and future generations.
2- Strengthening of the capacity of the practitioners and custodians of the traditional Empaako naming system, to transmit to successive generations, its knowledge, skills, meaning and social values.
3- Mobilization of practitioners and custodians of the traditional Empaako naming system for revitalization of performance of its associated ceremonies and observance of its associated practices.
4- Raising awareness of the bearers and stakeholders of the traditional Empaako naming system about its meaning and social values.
5- Contributing to competitive development of the language of the traditional Empaako naming system.
6- Adapting the meaning and values of the traditional Empaako naming system to peace building and environmental sustainability programmes.
7- Extending the scope of inscription and its resultant safeguarding programmes to bearer communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Results
1- Increased availability of and accessibility for the present and future generations to knowledge of ceremonies and practices associated with the traditional Empaako naming system for its bearer communities.
2- Strengthened capacity of the bearers of the traditional Empaako naming system to transmit to successive generations, Its knowledge, skills, meaning and social values.
3- The practitioners and custodians of the traditional Empaako naming system, mobilized for revitalization of performance of its associated ceremonies and observance of its associated practices.
4- Raised awareness of the bearers and stakeholders of the traditional Empaako naming system about its meaning and social values.
5- Realized contribution to the competitive development of the vernacular of the traditional Empaako naming system.
6- The meaning and social values of the traditional Empaako naming system adapted to programming for environmental sustainability and peace building.
7- The scope of inscription and its resultant safeguarding programmes extended to the bearer communities of traditional Empaako naming system in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
b) Activities
1- Capacity building workshops of stakeholders and practitioners.
This will involve giving skills for documentation of ICH and sharing knowledge and skills for performing Empaako naming ceremonies. This will be preceded by developing a practical guide and TOT workshop.
2- Comprehensive documentation of knowledge of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system.
This will include data collection and processing on ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system and producing a video, a document and art pieces.
3- Broad dissemination of documented knowledge through electronic media, formal education and online media.
4- Monthly clan’s representatives meetings.
This will be a regular forum of critical practitioners to review progress of safeguarding activities, observance of naming ceremonies and continuous planning, monitoring and sharing.
5- Weekly radio talk shows.
This will be a forum for participation of a wide community through listening and phone calling and sharing knowledge on the safeguarding of Empaako naming system.
6- Linking safeguarding of Empaako naming system to education and information institutions.
This will involve linking the outputs of documentation to curriculum development and education institutions for adoption as educational material in language, art and cultural education and training. This will also involve linking the output of documentation to library, museum and theatre institutions for adoption for informal education and entertainment.
7- Granting training scholarship to produce 20 Runyoro Rutooro language professionals to contribute to the preservation of the language where Empaako naming system finds expression and continuity.
8- Linking the cultural meaning of the traditional Empaako naming system to peace and environmental programing.
Training meetings will be organized with relevant NGO to sensitize them on how to adapt the cultural meaning of Empaako naming system to re-enforce design of project on environmental sustainability and peace building
1. To re-nominate and re-submit the traditional Empaako naming system as multi-national file with extended scope to include bearer communities in the DRC.
2. Monitoring and technical guidance
c) How the State Party concerned will support the implementation of the plan.
The relevant officers of the local governments which are covering the communities concerned with Empaako naming system, will form ICH Safeguarding committees which will manage a process of incorporating safeguarding of ICH in their Local Government Plans and Budgets and hence secure funding contribution to the safeguarding plan of Empaako naming system. These committees will also link up and be part of the monitoring committees for projects implementing this safeguarding plan.
The ministry in charge of Culture and Relevant National Government Institutions; including National Curriculum Development Centre, National Cultural Center, National Museum, National theatre and Uganda libraries Board, will provide technical guidance, monitoring support, distribution and knowledge dissemination infrastructure and support integration of documentation outputs into training and education system.
d) UPDATED OVER ALL WORK PLAN 2015 – 2019
DESCRIPTION ACTIVITY NUMBER TIME FRAME YEAR/MONTH
Capacity building actions 1 January 2018 – December 2018
Documentation of ceremonies and practices 2 January 2019 – December 2019
Broad dissemination actions 3 January 2018 – December 2019
Monthly clans meeting 4 January 2015 – December 2019
Weekly radio talk shows 5 January 2015 – December 2019
Linking safeguarding to education 6 January 2018 – December 2019
Giving scholarship for language professionals 7 January 2017 – December 2019
Linking Empaako meaning to peace and environmental programing 8 January 2015 – December 2019
Nomination on extended basis. 9 January 2018 – December 2019
Technical guidance and monitoring 10 April 2015 – December 2019
BUDGET ESTIMATES
DESCRIPTION ACTIVITY NUMBER AMOUNT IN US$
Capacity building actions 1 185,720
Documentation of ceremonies and practices 2 68,250
Broad dissemination actions 3 31,340
Monthly clan meeting 4 9,150
Weekly radio talk shows 5 37,200
Linking safeguarding to education 6 8,000
Giving scholarship for language professionals 7 40,000
Linking Empaako meaning to peace and environmental programing 8 8,000
Nomination on extended basis. 9 15,000
Technical guidance and monitoring 10 33,000
Grand Total 435,660
Sources
1. Government institutions – Personnel, Venues, Funds
2. Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund – Funds (US 232,120)
3. Engabu Za Tooro – Personnel, Venue, Rent, Equipment
4. Clans and Community Institutions – Services, Funds, Venues
5. Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda – Project Funds
6. Sponsors.
C.2.
Community participation
Please describe how communities, groups and individuals, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations have been involved, including in terms of gender roles, in updating the safeguarding plan, and how they will be involved in its implementation.
00164
Community participation
The communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi are represented by the 44 clan institutions of which membership cut across all the five communities. There are also represented by cultural institutions like chiefdoms and Kingdoms and voluntary community associations. These do not apply uniformly in all communities but each community has at least one of the above community collective mechanisms. The clan leaders represented up to family unit are the custodians of the community’s intangible cultural heritage. They cause and lead all traditional rituals and cultural ceremonies in the communities. Their mission is to ensure practice and transmission of the community’s intangible cultural heritage. Clans, collectively forms Cultural Institutions like Chiefdoms.
The community institutions have initiated, organized and contributed to financing of most of all the activities done so far, as illustrated hereunder;
• The general safeguarding plan and international assistance requests were developed by clan leaders, facilitated by the expert from Engabu Za Tooro NGO,
• All the festivals and events for awareness raising and launching safeguarding plans were initiated and organized by clan and community associations. Officials from the ministry and Engabu Za Tooro NGO were invited to facilitate.
• Empaako heritage conservation project was conceived and implemented by officials of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom with funding from Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda.
• Community-based music and visual artists initiated and executed the production of music and monument as their contribution to raising awareness and encouraging the communities to revitalize observance of ceremonies and practices.
The project management structure and mechanisms established to provide governance and monitoring of the safeguarding programme include representative of community institutions.
C.3.
Institutional context
Please report on the institutional context for the local management and safeguarding of the element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, including:
- a. the competent body(ies) involved in its management and/or safeguarding;
- b. the organization(s) of the community or group concerned with the element and its safeguarding.
2009-05-13
Institutional context
The competent bodies involved in management and facilitating Safeguarding Empaako element include; Engabu Za Tooro – Tooro Youth Platform for Action, a 15 years old cultural NGO, accredited to the IGC of the 2003 UNESCO Convention. The second is the Department of Culture and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development.
The community organizations concerned with Empaako element include, the 44 clan institutions currently having a monthly clans representative forum on the safeguarding concerns, Tooro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kingdom and Banyabindi culture and Development Trust.
Stephen
D. Participation of communities in preparing this report
Describe the measures taken to ensure the widest possible participation of the communities, groups and, where applicable, individuals concerned as well as relevant non-governmental organizations during the process of preparing this report.
Participation of communities in preparing this report
A facilitator was identified by the implementing organization to coordinate and compile this report with the participation of the communities.
Updating meetings were organized by the leaders of the participating community institutions in the five participating communities. These leaders included the Executive of Banyabindi Culture and Development Trust, Ekoomi ya Batuku and contact persons for Batagwenda, Tooro Kingdom and Bunyoro Kingdom. The meetings facilitated by the expert, generated information on what the communities feel they have accomplished and the challenges that were met. This information fed into the draft report which was sent back to the communities through their contact persons for comments. The comments received from the communities were considered before a final draft was compiled. The established monthly clan representative forum that convene in Fort-Portal discussed this first report as an agenda item on two sittings.
The first meeting generated information for the report and the second considered the draft report. Through the activities executives the staff of the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development independently collected information provided by the communities which also fed into the process of report development.
Executive Director
E. Signature on behalf of the State Party
The report should be signed by an official empowered to do so on behalf of the State, and should include his or her name, title and the date of submission.
Name
Title
Date
Signature
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Candidature
1379
© Engabu Za Tooro (EZT), 2013 
