Involve cultural leaders in upcoming population census

By Steven Masiga

Many of the tasks assigned to cultural institutions are created by various pieces of legislation and policies. These responsibilities shouldn’t be simply disregarded.

While we play a supportive role, not a primary one, government facilitation would be helpful in activating our cultural structures for sensitive tasks like the upcoming population census scheduled for May 9th.

Government entities should involve cultural and traditional institutions in mobilizing the masses for their communities’ development agendas.

Current legislation that creates and recognizes traditional and cultural institutions clearly states that they will mobilize communities for development. This is a task we have already undertaken without facilitation. However, for effective work, facilitation is desirable.

Several government programs lack the involvement of cultural leaders, which may lead to implementation gaps.

Traditional and cultural institutions are growing in number, and the government should make meaningful use of them. Various legislations and policies, including the Ugandan Constitution, Local Government Act, Cultural and Traditional Leaders’ Act, and National Cultural Policy 2019, assign significant responsibilities to cultural institutions in promoting government programs within their communities.

These responsibilities, allocated through legislation, cannot be ignored. What is given by law can only be taken away by law.

Include us in the census, and participatory development meetings, including the relocation of our communities, within the context of Bugisu.

Mr. Masiga Steven is a writer and spokesperson for Inzu Yamasaba. Tel: 0782231577.