UGANDA’S bark cloth has been named as part of the world’s collective heritage recognised by UNESCO.
Speaking yesterday, Augustine Omare Okurut, who heads the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, said the global body had declared the “art of bark cloth making in Uganda a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity.’’
He said this took place on November 25, bringing to four, the number of Uganda’s items in the world’s collective heritage.
Others include the Kasubi Tombs, recognised as a world heritage about five years ago and two natural sites, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori National Park.
“The proclamation of the art of bark cloth making in Uganda as a masterpiece of the world’s intangible heritage is an honour to Uganda and a recognition of the indigenous textile production skills of Ugandan craftsmen,’’ Okurut said.
“It will strengthen the activities aimed at preserving the bark cloth production skills in Uganda as well promoting the bark cloth and its use in Uganda and internationally.’’
Okurut said the bark cloth is used in various festivities, including as burial material for the dead and has invaluable commercial potential when exploited to make handicrafts.
He said the tree was becoming endangered and that if it was commercially exploited then the local people would be encouraged to grow it for posterity and to improve their welfare.
He also said bark cloth making had been left to a few traditional handicraftsmen because of lack of market, adding that this could cause extinction of the tree.
Okurut said research was undertaken on making bark cloth, which is extracted from a ficus tree popularly known as “Omutuba’’ in central Uganda.
He said researchers went to various places including Busoga and Bunyoro, but discovered that Buganda was the only place where it is widely used.
