Ankole needs cultural revival

SIR — When the Ankole cultural foundation and Ankole cultural trust conflicted over the restoration of the Omugabe, it was President Museveni who intervened and saved the situation. However, the youth have remained like sheep without a shepherd. We have no sense of direction culturally. When the western region came last in the makerere university cultural gala in 2004, the guest of honour commented that westerners were becoming more ‘westernised’. We need an investor who can help us set up a museum in the region. Having a museum illustrating the history of the region, ethnographic collections, a library, an education department, a music section and the natural history would go a long way in addressing the information and cultural gaps in the region today. The youth visiting the museum would then be acquainted with the history of Ankole kingdom, traditional dance and how to play our traditional instruments.
A crafts shop could be also set up to sell and exhibit our crafts. The royal drums, now at the uganda Museum would be returned to Ankole where they belong

Edson Ricky Birungi
Mbarara