Mbarara, Uganda – April 15, 2025 — In a significant move to advance the recognition and inclusion of cultural rights in higher education, the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) recently conducted a two-day orientation for 19 university lecturers on how to incorporate cultural rights into academic programmes.
Held from April 10 to 11 at Dream Wood Suites in Mbarara City, the orientation gathered academic staff from nine universities: Makerere University, Kabale University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Martyrs University, Gulu University, Mountains of the Moon University, Kampala International University, the International University of East Africa, and Bishop Stuart University.
The initiative is part of CCFU’s broader agenda to promote cultural rights as essential. dimension of human rights and national development. The orientation aimed to enhance the understanding of cultural rights among university educators, facilitate discussions on course content for a proposed cultural rights unit, and explore ways to integrate these rights into existing academic disciplines.
During the sessions, participants shared examples of how elements of cultural rights are already being addressed within existing courses, such as Kyambogo University’s “History of Human Rights,” Makerere University’s Master’s in Ethics and Human Rights, Kabale University’s Bachelor of Cultural Heritage, and KIU’s Master’s in Development Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies.
Dr. Dixon Kanakulya, Head of the Department of Philosophy at Makerere University, led a session on “Cultural Rights and the Law,” highlighting both the legal foundations and the challenges associated with promoting cultural rights in Uganda. Citing Article 27(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Dr. Kanakulya stressed the gap between international legal commitments and national implementation—particularly in cases such as the controversial restoration of the Obugabe cultural institution in western Uganda.
Barbra Babweteera, Executive Director of CCFU, emphasized the marginalization of cultural rights within the broader human rights discourse. She argued that cultural rights are fundamental to human dignity and are integral to sustainable development. “Cultural rights are not secondary to other human rights. They are the foundation on which other rights are built,” Babweteera stated.
She also led a session on managing cultural diversity in academic institutions, where lecturers identified cultural biases and stereotypes that could hinder the effective teaching of cultural rights.
As part of the programme, participants visited Igongo Cultural Centre and Museum in Biharwe, Mbarara City, where they experienced live cultural performances and learned about the practical expression of cultural rights.
The orientation concluded with the development of a proposed curriculum for a cultural rights course unit. Key topics suggested included: theories and concepts of cultural rights, historical evolution, legal frameworks, cultural rights and development, traditional justice systems, and the status of cultural rights in Uganda, with a particular focus on Indigenous Ethnic Minority Groups.
Although cultural rights are enshrined in both national and international legal instruments, public awareness and institutional support remain limited. Since 2012, CCFU has been working to change that narrative—using advocacy, publications, and partnerships with civil society and academic institutions to place cultural rights higher on Uganda’s national agenda.
Through initiatives like this lecturer orientation, CCFU continues to build momentum toward integrating cultural rights into the country’s education system and broader development efforts.
