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BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
MADI-OKOLLO: Thursday, August 03, 2023
It was once the trampling ground of the bulky beats which got extinct in the anarchic days of early 1980s but the clamour to have the iconic White Rhinos back to the Ajai wildlife reserve just got louder during the recent cultural fete at the Madi-Okollo district.
The glamorous event featured performances by 15 cultural groups whose theme resonated around good leadership, family values and mannerism and most often and crucially one thing- the White Rhinos.
“The White Rhinos and giraffes are still across the river [Nile at Ziwa in Nakasongola]. The objective of us presenting Osegu drama is to rally the community to prepare and preserve Ajai wildlife reserve so that the animals can be brought back,” the group leader for the Anyiribu dancers said.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority in December 2022 announced plans to re-introduce the White Rhinos back to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in the West Nile Sub-region.
Many local leaders and community members see the planned re-introduction as an opportunity for not only boosting tourism but also cultural regeneration.
Knight Zahara, the tourism officer for Madi-Okollo district, said whereas the region is blessed with vintage tourism potential, most of the attraction sites are undeveloped.
Ajai alone will provide market to accelerate local economic development. We appeal to the line ministry (ministry of tourism, wildlife and antiquities) to speed up the upgrading and restoration of Ajai,” she said.
Kazimero Ezaruku, the chief administrative officer, opined that Madi-Okollo is one of the districts in Uganda blest with both tangible and intangible culture which has to be tapped progressively.
“We have some unique and distinct cultures which can rarely be found elsewhere. For example, our food called Asua (simsim mixed with shea butter), Muosoko (pounded simsim), Akuara (dry fish mixed with greens and paste) are real delicacy,” he stated.
This was the second cultural gala organized by the district in as many years to showcase not only the folkdance, songs and crafts, but also the evolving dress code from the bygone era to date.
Ismail Drabe, the district LC5 chairman appealed for continued support for the cultural events, saying that revival of traditional values would benefit everyone.
“As a district, all our efforts and struggle have been about the restoration of Ajai such that when we reach there, all these other aspects (culture) will fit into the socio-economic transformation through tourism,” he asserted.
Joan Aniku Okia, the Woman Member of Parliament for Madi-Okollo district represented by the councilor for women for Pawor Sub-county, Scovia Acan, expressed optimism that tourism could serve as avenue for cultural exchange and revenue generated from tourism could serve for cultural preservation.
She however noted that sustainable tourism must embrace environmental protection, social equity and cultural diversity.
“Tourism and culture are interconnected. Let the local people be the primary beneficiaries,” said Okia.
