Public Service Minister Wilson Mukasa Muruli has advised communities to preserve their cultural heritage. He believes that preserving culture is the key to maintaining their identity and resisting negative external influences, especially immorality.
Speaking at the Nubian Cultural Festival in Bombo town, Luwero district, Muruli emphasized the importance of culture in helping African people retain their identity despite numerous challenges, including colonialism. He stated, “Throughout our history, we Africans have faced serious challenges, but we have survived as Africans because of our culture.”
The Nubian Cultural Festival, organized by the Nubian Development Association, attracted Nubian delegations from the region and Europe. The event, held on Saturday, May 25, 2024, was also attended by Second Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali, who presided over the function.
During the festival, Muruli launched a book titled “The Odyssey of the Nubi,” authored by Moses Ali, a prominent member of the Nubian community. The book details the journey of the Nubians from being soldiers of the British Empire to becoming Ugandan citizens. Muruli noted that the Nubians, originally from southern Sudan, came to Uganda as soldiers of the colonial army and have maintained their identity due to their community’s resilience.
Muruli stressed that communities that abandon their cultural values often fall victim to unsustainable Western practices like contract marriages. He praised the Nubians for their resilience and urged other Ugandan communities to follow their example.
The chairperson of the Nubian Development Association, Faruma Kalimala, expressed the association’s goal to lift its members out of poverty and create opportunities for a better future. She mentioned that many Nubians are landless and live in poverty. The association is seeking 350 million shillings to start an event management business to generate income for its activities.
Muruli contributed one million shillings to the fundraising drive and encouraged the association’s leaders to be honest, involve all members worldwide, and avoid power struggles.
The history of the Nubians dates back to their recruitment as mercenaries from southern Sudan. They formed the core of the colonial Fourth Kings African Rifles (KAR) and helped the British colonialists bring Uganda under control. After their mission, many settled in Buganda, particularly in Bombo, where they were given land by the Buganda government in 1908. Other Nubians settled in different parts of the country and neighboring countries like Kenya.
Bombo town, which had been elevated to a municipality during Idi Amin’s regime in the 1970s, was downgraded to a town council in 1989 due to a decline in population and social amenities. The reestablishment of the barracks in 1971 led to the army taking over several amenities that belonged to the council, including a playground and a 200-bed hospital built by the Buganda government.