Unveiling Uganda’s rich Cultural Diversity through a National Exhibition by Community Museums

The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) is proud to announce a 2-day National Exhibition by Community Museums and Cultural enterprises scheduled to take place from the 19th to the 20^th  of May 2026 at Hotel Africana. This landmark event, which is part of the activities to celebrate CCFU’s 20 years of cultural heritage safeguarding and promotion and commemorate the International Museum Day,  brings together 40 community museums and cultural enterprises from across the country.

Under the theme “Community museums Uniting a Divided Country,” the exhibition aims at bridging cultural and social divides by highlighting an essential role museums play in fostering peace, dialogue, and community transformation. The event serves as an important platform to raise the national profile of these grassroots initiatives, which are often overlooked despite their significant contributions to Uganda’s research, heritage education, cultural tourism promotion and identity.

While community museums demonstrate communities’ efforts and resilience in the safeguarding of  heritage, they continue to face several challenges such as limited visibility, lack of government support, limited coordination and networking and limited professional competences. This exhibition is designed to address some of these challenges by linking museum managers with policymakers, tour operators, and the private sector.

Speaking on the importance of this initiative, Barbra Babweteera, the Executive Director of The Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), emphasized that culture is a cornerstone of sustainable growth.

“The theme “Community museums Uniting a Divided Country” reminds us that our cultural spaces are more than just houses for the past; they are essential bridges for intercultural dialogue, peace and reconciliation in our communities. At CCFU, we believe culture is a fundamental engine for development, especially through cultural tourism and the growth of cultural enterprises that empower local families. To truly safeguard our heritage, it cannot be a solo effort; I call upon all stakeholders—from government to the private sector—to join hands with us in supporting these community initiatives that foster a sense of national identity and collective transformation.”

The exhibition features a diverse array of cultural aspects that deconstruct colonial museum narratives, offering instead a truly Ugandan perspective on history and contemporary culture.

Representing the community museums, Mr. Abraham Kitaulwa of the Kigulu Cultural Museum shared the impact of these community-led efforts:

 “Community museums are the frontline guardians of our cultural heritage, ensuring that our local traditions and knowledge are not lost to time,” Kitaulwa remarked. “Through the technical and financial support from CCFU, we have moved beyond simple collection to realizing how culture can be practically incorporated into development aspects. This support has empowered us to see our museums as centers of education and economic potential rather than just relics of the past”.

The exhibition has been officially launched by Ms. Lilly Ajarova, the Senior Presidential advisor on Tourism. In her remarks, she underscored the role of culture in promoting national unity and character.

“Culture is more than just artifacts and performances; it is the fabric of our social cohesion. It provides the values and the moral framework that build a disciplined and respectful society. Our traditions teach us “Ubuntu”, the interconnectedness of our humanity and provide the ethical guardrails that guide our youth. By strengthening our cultural roots, we are essentially strengthening the character of our nation”.

She further mobilized different stakeholders to support community museums important cultural tourism hubs.

“Today, I wish to call upon all stakeholders, government, the private sector, media and civil society: to integrate cultural safeguarding into our national development agendas; invest in cultural innovations and community-led tourism; and to provide platforms and spaces for engaging young people in cultural heritage safeguarding efforts; and write positively about our cultural heritage”

About the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU)

CCFU is a national non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the recognition of culture as vital for equitable and human-centered development. The Foundation operates under three Programme areas including Cultural heritage safeguarding and Promotion, Cultural Rights Promotion, and the Promotion of Culture for Livelihood.

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