The minister of state for Gender in Charge of Cultural Affairs, Rukia Nakadama has indicated that government is ready to support cultural initiatives that target improving people’s livelihoods.

Nakadama at the Engabu Za Tooro event Serena Hotel

She says, the government support will be inform of better policies and increased budgetary allocations to activities in the culture sector. Speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Kitara Cultural Explosion organized by Engabu Za Tooro at Kampala Serena Hotel Kampala on Friday (21st May, 2010), the minister who donated 100 US Dollars towards the event, also congratulated the organization for being accredited to a UN Agency World Intellectual property Organization (WIPO).

The event which attracted hundreds of people from the diplomatic sector, cultural institutions, international development agencies, government agencies, opinion leaders and the corporate sector aims at fundraising money for the building of a cultural centre in Fort Portal which will among other things include an amphitheatre and a museum.

In his speech, the Executive Director Engabu Za Tooro, Rwagweri Stephen attributed the lack of enabling infrastructure as one of the biggest constraint to the development of cultural heritage. He says cultural heritage is key to the development of cultural education, research and tourism for development.

The event which started at 5pm was spiced up with cultural dances, folklore from Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe and European cultural Music from Real Band from Slovenia.

By Solomon Akugizibwe