Buganda Queen calls for cultural conservation

Aug 09, 2013

Buganda’s Queen, Sylvia Nagginda wants conservation to be integrated into cultures.

By Gerald Tenywa

Buganda’s Queen, Sylvia Nagginda wants conservation to be integrated into cultures.

“It is important to conserve with culture,” said Nagginda, adding that people conserve what they know and that promotion of culture would help to achieve conservation.

She was speaking at Entebbe on Wednesday, as the guest of honour during celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the NGO Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH).

Nagginda unveiled a foundation stone where an exhibit that will provide sanctuary to the cane rat (omusu) is to be constructed at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC).

true
The Nabagereka bows for a Shoebill at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. PHOTO/Matthias Mugisha

The cane rat is the totem of the Omusu clan to which Nagginda belongs. Buganda has 52 clans, each with a special totem.

Most of the totems are either animals or plants, which UWEC is planning to exhibit at the centre, according to Mary Balyamujura, the UWEC board chairperson.

Nagginda also interacted with Charles Hamukungu, a baby elephant, rhinos and the shoebill, which are some of the most important attractions at the centre.

Nagginda, who is the patron of CTPH, said she was grateful to be associated with the organisation.

“It is because of organisations like CTPH that wildlife will not be a myth but a reality for the coming generations,” said Nagginda.

Princess Katrina Ssangalyambogo was also present.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});