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Uganda National Commission for UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization Republic of Uganda
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UGANDA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO
Uganda became member of UNESCO in November 1962 and, in accordance with Article VII of the UNESCO Constitution established the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO (UNATCOM) in September 1963. The main object of UNATCOM is to serve as the official agency linking Uganda to UNESCO and its agencies, and to ensure the presence of UNESCO and the implementation of UNESCO’s activities and programmes in Uganda. UNESCO’s fields of competence are: Education, Natural Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture Communication and Information
Uganda is more than a country, it’s the Pearl of Africa as fondly described by Sir Winston Churchill, and the former British Prime Minister who was enthused by what he found in the East African country. A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as being of special cultural, human or physical significance. This list should encourage you to travel and see some of these gorgeous features in Uganda for yourself. There are 3 UNESCO designated world heritage sites in Uganda are the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi designated as a cultural Heritage site, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mt. Rwenzori National Park both designated as Natural Heritage sites.
1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This a natural World Heritage site located in South-Western Uganda on the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It contains Uganda’s oldest and biologically most diverse rainforest within an area of 331 km2. In addition, it provides habitat for 120 mammals and most notably, for approximately 340 critically endangered mountain gorillas, which is half of the world’s existing population.
This is the reason why the park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Community benefits arising from gorilla tracking and other sustainable tourism initiatives is the only hope for the future conservation of this precious site.
Spectacular views of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda (Copyright: Uganda Safari Tours/ Gracious Tours and Travel)
United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Republic of Uganda
UGANDA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO
2. Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park comprises the main part of the Rwenzori Mountain chain, which includes Africa’s third highest peak at 5109m above sea level. The combination of spectacular snow-capped peaks, glaciers, V-shaped valleys, fast flowing rivers with magnificent waterfalls, clear blue lakes and unique flora contributes to the area’s exceptional natural beauty. Due to its outstanding natural beauty richest in vegetation it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
The inscription of the above two natural heritage sites in Uganda has created and raised awareness among citizens and government for heritage preservation and conservation. Greater awareness has led to a general rise in the level of protection and conservation of the sites for sustainable use in tourism and education initiatives in the country.
Rwenzori Mountains (above) and a 3-horned Chameleon as one of the unique biological species (Copyright: Uganda Wildlife Authority) Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Copyright: UNESCO)
3. The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi
The Tombs of Buganda Kings constitute a site embracing 26.8 hectares of Kasubi hillside within Kampala City, Uganda’s capital. The site is the major spiritual centre for the Baganda where traditional and cultural practices have been preserved.
Its place as the burial ground for the previous four kings (Kabaka’s) qualifies it as a religious centre for the royal family, a place where the Kabaka and his representatives carry out important rituals related to Buganda culture.
At its core on the hilltop is the main tomb building, locally referred to as the “Muzibu Azaala-Mpanga” which is a masterpiece of this ensemble and four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga. The architecture and natural elements of the Kasubi Tombs site are charged with historical, traditional, and spiritual values.
The site’s main significance lies in its intangible values of beliefs, spirituality, continuity and identity of the Baganda people. The site serves as an important historical and cultural symbol for Uganda and East Africa as a whole.
United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Republic of Uganda
UGANDA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO
UNESCO Designated Biosphere Reserves in Uganda
Other UNESCO Designated Sites Include Biosphere Reserves in Uganda namely; Queen Elizabeth and Mt. Elgon Biosphere Reserves designated in 1979 and 2005 respectively.
1. Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth Biosphere Reserve and National Park straddle the equator in western Uganda. Covering an altitudinal range of 910 to 1,390 meters above sea level, it is composed of a wide range of ecosystems: semi-deciduous tropical high forests, undulating savanna grasslands, Acacia savanna, tundra and wetlands. The area also includes (partly salt) lakes among which are Lake George (a Ramsar site) and Lake Edward. This site has the greatest biodiversity under protection in Uganda.
A view of Queen Elizabeth Biosphere Reserve (Copyright: UNATCOM)
2. Mt. Elgon
At 4,000km² Mt. Elgon has the world’s largest volcanic base and is the oldest and largest solitary, volcanic mountain in East Africa, home to over 300 species of birds, variety of wildlife, the Bagisu, the Sabiny, marginalized Ndorobos and Benet tribes. Promotion for more designation continued between 2016 and 2020 with over 40 sites mapped
Mt Elgon Features with some of the biodiversity in the Biosphere Reserve (Copyright: UNESCO).
United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Republic of Uganda
UGANDA NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO
Role of UNESCO in Promoting and Safeguarding World Heritage Sites
UNESCO plays a big role in promoting World Heritage sites by encouraging safeguarding through its normative tools like the five UNESCO Conventions underlie its efforts to safeguard heritage, raising awareness of threats to heritage, forging partnerships, campaign works to empower young people to mobilise for the defence of their shared heritage through social media.
Young volunteers have learned about the value of heritage by taking part in youth camps organized in various parts of the world. For example, Uganda National Commission for UNESCO in partnership with Faraja Africa Foundation a youth led organization has organized several World Heritage Volunteer Camps in Mount Rwenzori National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for the year 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 respectively.
UNESCO also safeguards world heritage sites through stakeholder and global capacity-building programme works to create positive institutional environments for safeguarding World heritage, while the UNESCO Chair Programme on Cultural Heritage and Risk Management supports training courses on disaster risk management.
However, beyond this list, breathtaking scenes are everywhere in Uganda offering a rare package of outstanding natural beauty enhancing its territory with everything from a hospitable people, timeless villages, magnificent parks and pristine scenery.
I would end by urging you all to visit Uganda to see and appreciate her incredible beauty, nothing beats seeing these locations in person!
