BY INNOCENT KIIZA
In the heart of Uganda lies the majestic Rwenzori Mountains, home to the Bakonzo minority people. For decades, this landscape has not only defined their identity but also housed their cherished cultural heritage. However, the looming specter of environment degradation is now casting a shadow over the tangible and intangible treasures that make up the rich wall-hanging of Bakonzo tradition.
The Bakonzo, deeply connected to the land, see the signs of climate change manifesting in rising temperatures and the melting of snow on their sacred mountains. To them, these shifts are interpreted as expressions of Kitasamba’s anger, the father of spirits. The triggers, they say, are severe deforestation, the destructive impact of rapid population growth, and the desecration of their beloved mountains, once revered and hunted with traditional tools like spears and traps.
The narrative takes root in the 1950s when foreign companies, such as Canadian copper-mining giants Frobisher Limited and Ventures, descended upon Kilembe Mines, leaving an indelible mark on the region. The extraction of copper not only reshaped the landscape but also redirected the Nyamwamba River, disrupting its natural course and paving the way for Kilembe to become one of Uganda’s largest towns.
Kule Walyuba, a resident of Bulembia in Kasese municipality, vividly recalls the environmental degradation caused by mining activities. He highlights the irony of people settling on hills created from the waste of these mining operations, oblivious to the health risks associated with the metals in the soil.
Fast forward to 2012, and a devastating wildfire swept through the Rwenzori Mountains, clearing vital vegetation that helped control downstream rivers. This environmental upheaval set the stage for the recurring floods that have plagued the region since 2013, affecting thousands of homes, schools, and the lives of the Bakonzo people.
The impact is not limited to human structures; cultural sites are bearing the brunt of climate change. Ekisalthalha Kya Kororo, a cultural site in Kabiri, and the Kithangetse rivers in Kyondo sub-county have fallen victim to recent floods, washing away shrines and precious god-evoking musical instruments.
Mary Kyakimwa, a tour guide at Ekisalthalha Kya Kororo, emphasizes the urgent need for intervention. Planting vegetation around the site becomes a crucial strategy to mitigate climate change effects on this sacred place.
Dr Joseph Katswera the Kasese District nature resource officer mentioned that besides floods but also the erosion stemming from weather conditions and the destruction of vegetation cover including some medicinal plants used during the ritual has been destroyed.
He said the akasesa Swamp, located in the heart of Kasese municipality town, next to Bakoko Sawuriyako Market, where Kasese district originality from and having been somewhat mispronounced by foreigners who first visited the area.
The Akasesa swamp is affected by litter and with parts of it surrounding land parceled out opens for goats waiting to be sold, this is an important cultural sites for the Bakonzo.
The site has been also affected by the excessive water run-off from the surrounding hills during rainy seasons and the flooding River Nyamwamba which has been damaged by dumping of garbage from drainage system, human settlement, unsustainable methods of crop and animal farming and replacement of indigenous trees by exotic trees like eucalyptus which are non swamp-friendly trees and nearby salt market could also affect plant growth in the swamp.
He suggested that there is need to form a board of illustrate the significance of the site to avoid encroachers and setting up of the shelter for visitors for those playing the game at Bweso, de-silting Kyirirane lake and increase the vegetation cover through tree planting to cover all the four sites.
However, The minister for culture and tourism in Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Ericana Baluku said there is need to increase the sites vegetation cover and to de-silt the submerged hot springs on top of increase awareness about the importance of these cultural sites.
Baluku mentioned the Enterano Confluence a ritual cleansing which is found downstream of river Rwimi/Lhume from Embugha hotspring. Its known for Erisanganiro and Nterano, meaning place in Lhukonzo and Rutooro respectively.
He said the Enterano Confluence is not only affected by floods but also the site faces the threat of increased human activities as deforestation and land degradation adding that the surrounding hills have been left bare of trees as farmers open up more land for Agriculture.
Similarly, the Ekiriba Kyathumba hot springs and the Embugha Hot Springs face an uncertain future. Floods have altered the landscape, silted springs, and disrupted the delicate balance between cultural practices and environmental changes. Ericana Baluku, Minister for Culture and Tourism in Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, stresses the importance of increasing vegetation cover, desilting submerged springs, and raising awareness about these cultural sites.
The situation is no different for sites like Enterano Confluence, Kangwangyi-Bweso-Bubina Kyirirane, Akasesa Swamp, Mulyambuli, Nzwirangya, and Nyamwamba rivers confluence, and Akathwa Kakathundu Sacred Hill. Erosion, flooding, and human activities are threatening these invaluable cultural assets.
CIVIL SOCIETY INTERVENTION
In response to this crisis, the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) supported by International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the Swedish Postcode Foundation has initiated a project to increase vegetation cover through indigenous tree planting, helping mitigate the impacts of climate change on these sites. Signposts highlighting the cultural significance of these locations are also being installed as part of an effort to create awareness.
The Deputy Executive Director for cross cultural foundation Fredrick Nsibambi said as we witness the delicate interplay between culture and nature unravel in the face of climate change, urgent action is needed. The preservation of these cultural heritage sites is not just a matter of historical significance but a testament to the symbiotic relationship between a community and its environment. The call is clear – it’s time to safeguard the treasures of Rwenzori before they become mere echoes of a vibrant past.
The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) In partnership with the international National Trusts Organisation (INTO) embarked on a project to create awareness and part-protect and signpost cultural heritage under threat by climate change in Rwenzori region.
