It was a privilege for Uganda to host the 15th ICNT.

By Evelyne Ninsiima
In Uganda, we dance and sing for our guests as a sign of warm welcome. We forget about formal attires, and jump into the cultural wears designed according to one’s tribe.

Cultural dances at the opening of the INTO Conference.

The inauguration of the conference brought together delegates from all corners of the world, to a friendly and free interaction. The day was lively, with magnificent Ugandan cultural groups. Cultural dances, riddles, songs among others were presented, which fascinated most of us. Various foods, fresh from our Ugandan soils were served. Delicious fish balls direct from our own Lake Victoria was one of the most demanded delicacies. The anticipation for all, especially for the first time visitors was paramount. It was a remarkable evening that ended with high expectations for next day. We all checked in to our respective hotels which had been booked prior to our arrival.
Unlike other conferences where people usually seat in one place, discuss issues, and go home, the ICNT- International Conference National Trusts offered more than that. Connections, partnerships, friendships, and even country exploration were part of it. The ICNT’s theme was;
“Cultural Diversity for Responsible Development.”
This theme must have been designed for Uganda! Being a country of rich heritage, especially the tangible, we needed more awareness on heritage preservation for development. National parks, forests, among others are some of the rich heritages that have sustained Uganda’s development through tourism.
I was pleased with my achievement in the ICNT conference. I managed to make new connections about heritage promotion. Experience exchanged from heritage experts inspired me to widen my direction of perceiving heritage diversity. Being the founder of a non- profit organization that promotes cultural preservation through children, I gained creativity. I found a reason to involve my fellow youth and women to the journey of promoting heritage.

The next morning was even brighter. I woke up with high expectations for the day and a hunger for knowledge. The first session of the conference was engaging. Experts in heritage, history, conservation and many other related cultural fields enhanced recognition of creativity. The forum created a platform where the members of INTO –The International Organisation of National Trusts exchanged ideas of promoting the built and intangible cultural heritage preservation.
Learning journeys, in which I participated, also enabled me to witness heritage preservation around Kampala. During our tour, we were able to witness the secret of a backcloth. Various designs that are made out of backcloth looked amazing. Backcloth is a fine textured special traditional material harvested from the inner bark of the Ficus natalensis tree, locally known as the “Mutuba” tree. The process of making it is very tedious and needs some level of skill.

Historian, “omugurusi” Festo Karwemera, shares some of his heritage tips.

Emily Drani and John De Coninck of CCFU sharing a light moment with a representative from The Madvani foundation Uganda.

A backcloth expert explains the process of getting backcloth from the mutuba tree, as Fredrick Nsibambi of CCFU showing off one of the beautiful bags made out of backcloth.

A detailed process can be read on http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/RL/00139
Delegates were distributed across the country to learn more about Ugandan heritage sites. Places visited included Lake Mburo national park in the South Western part of the country, the source of the Nile in the Eastern part and Buija forest. Some stayed in Entebbe to visit the botanical gardens, while others went to Kampala to visit the Buganda kingdom, which rules the central region of Uganda. Kampala district, in which the famous kingdom lays, is the capital city of Uganda.
Our tour to the Buganda parliament, the palace, the Royal tombs, revealed most of the beliefs about the kingdom.

Shashi Kant Misra, chairman Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development in the Buganda parliament.

In acknowledgment of Dr. Gulrose Jiwani’s presentation, I asked her for a piece of advice on how to undertake the challenges I was facing. She answered;
“Beat your drums with people who are willing to dance with you.”
With that piece of advice, I can assure you, my friends that a river which would have taken me a week to cross, took me a day.
I believe that with this privilege of volunteering with INTO, I shall gain enough knowledge to make me a much better ambassador of culture so that I may be able to influence the various people I will be interacting with.
I excitedly look forward to many more wonderful experiences working with INTO fraternity. Being an African youth full of enthusiasm, I hope to reach out to many more young people and let them appreciate the beauty of identifying oneself with their cultural heritage. The future generation depends on our present combined efforts of jealously preserving our rich roots. Knowing that my ideology is being shared with such great dignitaries in the INTO, gives me the motivation to work even harder.
The ICNT was a fountain of knowledge and a source of rich ideas for all who attended. It renewed hope for all cultural promoters that there was still hope as long as there were committed people and organizations to carry the good preservation forward.

Justine Scully, a Director for The National Trust England, Wales and Northern Ireland briefs us about the next conference in 2015