CCFU Celebrates 13 Young Heritage Champions, Unveils 2026 Cultural Calendar 

Jinja, Uganda – December 11th, 2025 – Thirteen exceptional young people from across Uganda have been recognised for their creative illustrations celebrating Uganda’s cultural rituals and ceremonies during the 14th Annual Youth Prize Awarding Ceremony. The event, organised by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), took place at the Uganda Railway Museum grounds and brought together young people and their parents, teachers, cultural leaders, representatives from Busoga Kingdom, civil society organisations, and officials from Jinja City Council. 

The annual competition invites young people to artistically interpret a selected heritage theme, and this year’s theme, “Our Cultural Rituals and Ceremonies”, attracted over 280 entries nationwide. A jury of five heritage experts selected the top 13 artworks, which have been used to produce the 2026 Heritage Calendar, unveiled during the ceremony. The competition continues to raise the profile of heritage education in Uganda and support the safeguarding of endangered cultural practices. 

The top award went to Ssali Alex of St. Bruno Sserunkuuma Secondary School in Masaka, whose striking illustration depicts the last funeral rites among the Baganda, highlighting both the ceremonial practices and the transfer of responsibility to the heir. 

Presiding over the ceremony, Fr. Kayaga Gonzaga, from the Cultural Research Centre, emphasised the growing importance of heritage education, noting that parents today spend less time transmitting cultural norms to their children. He pointed out that influences such as religion, technology, and formal schooling have widened the disconnect between young people and their cultural identity. 

“We are delighted to recognise these talented young people who have demonstrated an exemplary appreciation of Uganda’s rich cultural heritage,” said Mr. Fahad Ssemakula, CCFU’s Heritage Education Programme Lead. “Their artwork not only showcases creativity but also highlights the role of culture in addressing development challenges such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy.” 

Competition winners received cash and other prizes, including certificates.

14 years of the Heritage Education Programme 

For the past 14 years, CCFU, with support from Bread for the World, TotalEnergies EP Uganda (since 2022), and over 20 community museums, has implemented the Heritage Education Programme in primary and secondary schools across Uganda. The programme now operates in more than 230 schools, engaging young people in music, dance and drama, debates, arts and crafts, painting, moulding, and structured heritage learning sessions guided by a practical toolkit. 

These activities reinforce the national competence-based curriculum, which prioritises hands-on learning. As a result, students now produce examinable heritage outputs, further strengthening cultural learning in schools. 

As a result of the competition, several winners have established cultural enterprises as sources of employment and income generation and this fits well in the NDPV in which culture and creative industries are recognized by the government as key pillars for socio-economic development and job creation 

At the national level, CCFU partnered with the National Curriculum Development Centre to integrate culture into the lower secondary curriculum under the theme “Culture and Ethnic Groupings in East Africa”, ensuring that even learners without heritage clubs have access to heritage education. 150 history and political education teachers have been trained to deliver this subject. 

Speaking at the event, CCFU’s Executive Director, Ms. Barbra Babweteera, acknowledged the programme’s achievements but highlighted the need for additional learning materials. “Although we have rolled out these initiatives and trained teachers, the available resources remain insufficient. We call upon partners in the heritage sector to support us in developing more materials,” she said. 

To further strengthen heritage education, CCFU, supported by UNESCO, initiated the Bachelor of Cultural Heritage Studies in universities including Kyambogo University, Islamic University in Uganda, Kabale University, and Uganda Martyrs University. The Foundation is currently working with 9 universities to mainstream cultural rights studies in human rights academic programmes both at bachelors and masters degree levels. 

As Uganda continues to modernise, CCFU underscored the vital role of young people in safeguarding cultural heritage and urged stakeholders to prioritise heritage education in schools. 

About the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) CCFU is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting an appreciation of culture as essential to human development and reflective of our diverse identities. Its work focuses on cultural heritage safeguarding and promotion, cultural rights, and culture-based livelihoods.