From the 5th to 8th of September 2023, CCFU engaged different stakeholders to discuss strategies to harness indigenous knowledge to build climate resilience for Kyondo sub-county in Kasese which lives along the banks of river Kabiri.
The community has been affected by the flooding of the river which has had devastating effects on not only their livelihoods but also cultural heritage sites in the area which have been washed away or silted. Ekisalhalha Kya Kororo cultural heritage site is an example of heritage which is at risk due to flooding. The site is important to the Bakonzo as a place where the community dispenses traditional justice, seeks blessings and healing as it is endowed with indigenous fauna and flora.
Selection of indigenous tree species to plant
During the engagements with stakeholders including the natural resources office of Kasese District, farmers, ridge leaders, religious leaders and the Kyondo sub-county local leadership, indigenous tree species such as bamboo and others that are resistant to floods were identified. In the same regard, the Assistant Natural Resources Officer, Mr. Bahati Baluku shared with the community the best practices for environmental friendly farming and techniques for planting and taking care of trees.
“As much as we rely on the environment for food and other resources, we need to take care of it too. There are so many cultural resources amidst us that we can utilise to contribute to climate adaptation. We can plant trees or mobilise cultural leaders to perform rituals that combat natural calamities. This project is a chance for Kyondo to serve as a model community for conservation of the environment.”
CCFU with support from The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) will procure about 2,000 tree species that farmers will plant along the banks of river Kabiri.
Selection of a climate change committee
CCFU worked with the community to constitute a climate change community known as “River Kabiri Valley Climate Change Mitigation Committee”. The committee which comprises of key stakeholders including farmers, local council leaders, the community development officer, Ekisalhalha kya Kororo heritage, police, cultural leaders and religious leaders will be responsible for enforcing the Kyondo subcounty bi-law on climate change mitigation and overseeing activities on the CCFU supported project.
Background of the project
The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) is implementing a micro project titled ‘Using traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples to mitigate the effects of climate change on Ekyisalhalha kya Kororo sacred cultural site on River Kabiri in Kasese, in the Rwenzori region’. This micro project is part of ICCROM’s Net Zero: Heritage for Climate Action project that seeks to implement heritage-based mitigation and adaptation strategies in 5 innovation sites (in Uganda, Brazil, Sudan, Egypt and India) to reduce the impacts of climate change for people and heritage.