Kabale Regional Museum

Kabale Regional Museum is a public museum in Kabale Uganda.[1] It is run under the Department of Museums and Monuments in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities of Uganda.[2] It is located south of the equator, in the south western Uganda, Kabale District, Northern Division Sub-county, Rutooma Parish, Ibumba Cell on Lake Bunyonyi road. The museum tells the story of the tradition of the Kigezi people in Uganda.[3]

The Kabale Regional Museum in 2021

History and etymology

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It was established in 1978 by the Board of Trustees of the Uganda Museums, Department of Antiquities by then in the Hindu temple after the President Idi Amin Dada expelled the Asians from Uganda, curated by Nkundiye Samuel.[4]

The museum was closed in 2007 after Indians repossessed the building and turned it into a temple.[5][6] The objects were taken to the Kabale government archive and Uganda Museum for security purposes.

In 2005, land where the museum is currently located was acquired under the leadership of the then Commissioner of Museums and Monuments, Kamuhangire Ephraim. In 2007, construction of the building started under the leadership of Commissioner Mwanja Nkaale Rose.

Kabale Regional Museum was re-opened to the public in September 2014.

Collection

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Kabale Regional Museum covers archaeology, ethnography and contemporary art.[7] It has hundreds of ethnographic collections with very few archeology, geology, painting and photograph collections.

The Museum showcases basic information about Kigezi.

The topics in this Museum include;

  • Historical background: How Kigezi came into existence, migrations of inhabitants, Evolution of boundaries and current area of Kigezi.
  • Landscape and weather The hills, valleys, forests and how they are economically being utilized by the people, their cultural history, economic and political history.
  • The peoples’ origin: Ethnic groupings and the way they live.
  • Cultural History: Set ups, ceremonies, marriage, food and drinks, music and dance.
  • Economic: Agriculture, Trade, Transport and industries.
  • Politics: Early settlements and past events in the greater Kigezi.

The museum showcases artifacts that are endangered objects[8] in the greater Kigezi community.

References

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  1. ^ "🎙️ Today Around Uganda: May 22, 2021". New Vision. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Development of Museums". tourismuganda. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  3. ^ Nsheeka, Wilfred Arinda (15 January 2024). "Kabale Museum Struggles to Attract Visitors 10 years after Relocation". Watchdog Uganda. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ Rumanzi, Bob (14 January 2024). "Kabale Regional Museum Struggles with Low Visitor Numbers Despite Relocation and Cultural Riches". 91.8 Boona FM. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Kabale Regional Museum Closed". Uganda Radionetwork. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  6. ^ Musinguzi, Goodluck. "Kabale Museum Users want it Re-opened". Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  7. ^ Taboroff, June; Cook, Cynthia C. (1993). Cultural Property and Environmental Assessments in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Handbook. Environmentally Sustainable Development Division, Technical Department, Africa Region [and] Social Policy and Resettlement Division, Environment Department, The World Bank. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. ^ Ssenyonga, Fredrick Nsibambi (2016). "The Emerging Role of Community Museums in Uganda: The Need for Capacity Building Among Managers". Museum International. 68 (1–2): 125–129. doi:10.1111/muse.12096. ISSN 1468-0033. S2CID 164430079.
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