Uganda Traditional Forum launches landmark book to preserve cultural heritage

Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Traditional Forum has launched a comprehensive book that documents and celebrates the cultural practices of Uganda’s diverse communities.

The book, officially unveiled on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) in Kampala, was presented by members of the Forum led by their association chairman, Prof. Prince Wasajja Kiwanuka.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Wasajja explained that the launch was timed to coincide with Uganda’s commemoration of World Culture Day 2025. “This book has a lot of content that will guide the new generation on the different cultural practices of our many tribes. We have invested many resources in this project, and we are proud to launch it today,” he said.

He added that the book is designed to be a reference for parents, schools, institutions, researchers, and foreigners interested in learning more about Uganda’s cultural heritage. “There are many ways to promote culture, but we believed the most impactful way was to publish a book about our traditions and practices,” he said.

According to the organizers, the book will be sold at UGX 100,000 per copy and will be stocked in bookshops, public libraries, and cultural institution offices across the country.

The event also featured a range of activities to mark World Culture Day, including a charity football match, cultural exhibitions, traditional performances, and speeches from invited guests.

This year’s celebrations focused on refugee communities living within Uganda, many of whom participated actively in the festivities. Among the refugee groups represented were Somali, Congolese, Eritrean, and South Sudanese communities.

Noor Mohammad Hossin, a Somali refugee living in Kampala, thanked the organizers for including refugees in the program: “We thank the government of Uganda for hosting us and for giving us an opportunity to celebrate this day with other refugees,” he said.

Musiitwa Robert, Head of Public Relations and Marketing at UNCC, clarified that the event was held a month later than the global date of May 21st due to logistical reasons: “We were not ready to host it on the actual date, but we felt it was important to still mark the occasion,” he explained.

Globally, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development—spearheaded by UNESCO—was celebrated under the theme “Embrace the Journey, Shape Our Future.” The theme calls on communities to understand, respect, and value cultural diversity to build unity and drive sustainable development.