Minister Musenero is to grace the Namaddu Festival this Sunday.

Minister Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, who serves as the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, will grace the upcoming Namaddu festival expected to happen on Sunday, 24th September, 2023, at the National Theatre in Kampala.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The Namadu is the biggest Bugwere event of the year where sons and daughters of Bagwere come together to celebrate their rich history, identity and uniqueness vested in their culture dance like Namadu, Kongo, Mulele, delicacies like Obwita, Bijjo, Mwogo, Nsuswa, Magira. Games like Nebel, Kakojo, and dress code exhibitions among others. 

The "Namaddu" involves one guy playing all the seven drums at once

Background.

 

Societies are usually identified by their heritage. Typical African stories are identified by an abundant cultural heritage reason why culture should be preserved and valued art all costs.

 

Kimaru Foundation (KF) is nonprofitable organization that was established to develop communities through developing of culture in Uganda. The foundation is driven by conviction that cultures if analyzed, is a resource and the basis for sustainable development. After an intensive survey.

 

KF has developed project in order to reduce the poverty levels in our region by providing new sources of income for indigenous communities through cultural tourism, Societies are usually identified with their heritage. Typical African stories are identified by an abundant cultural and that’s the reason why culture should be preserved and valued at all coasts.

 

After an extensive survey, KF decided to put emphasis on culture tourism given the vast opportunity it presents. This Bagwere Namadu festival is aimed at celebrating the Bagwere  culture and showcasing it unique the world.

The Bagwere occupy an area of 2,388.3 km in eastern Uganda, mostly in Budaka District, Pallisa District and Kibuku District, Butebo District,  where they make up over 80% of the population. They have the Bagisu, the Basoga, the Balamogi and the Iteso, the Banyole and the Jopadhola (Badama) as their neighbors. 

The city of Mbale is home to some Bagwere. 

Bagwere are also found in the following towns in Eastern Uganda: Pallisa, Budaka, Kibuku, Kagumu, Kamonkoli, Kadama, Kabweri, Iki-Iki, Bulangira, Kaderuna, Tirinyi, Butebo and Kakoro.

The Bagwere are said to have emigrated to their present area from Bunyoro and Toro, and travelled along Lake Kyoga, crossing River Mpologoma. 

For this reason all the tribes that settled along the shores Kyoga like; Baluli, Bakenye, Balamogi have a similar language to Lugwere.

Their initial area of settlement has shrunk considerably as the Iteso and the Bagisu have pushed the Bagwere's frontiers inwards.

The language of the Bagwere is Lugwere.