By Aaron Okotel
MBALE
The Semei Kakungulu Museum has launched a week-long celebration to mark its first anniversary and the 97th year since the death of Semei Kakungulu, honoring his lasting impact on environmental protection and the local ecosystem.
The activities are specifically aimed at raising public awareness about the realities of climate change and underscoring the urgent need for climate action across Uganda.
The museum, officially opened on November 28, 2024, at the Semei Kakungulu heritage site in Mbale City.
James Kinawa, Manager of the Semei Kakungulu Museum, in a press announcement highlighted the significance of the timing.
“This week marks a special milestone for the Semei Kakungulu Museum as it celebrates one year since its official opening, and also this same day, which is the 24th of November this year, marks 97 years since Semei Kakungulu died,” Kinawa said. “So we really commemorate his legacy.”
The museum project, a collaboration between the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) and the Semei Kakungulu family, was established after the site’s restoration. It received support from the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund as part of the “Withstanding Change Heritage Among Climate Uncertainty” project.
Kinawa noted the project’s success in demonstrating locally-led, heritage-based adaptation that supports livelihoods and connects culture with climate awareness. Since opening, the museum has welcomed over 2,000 visitors, including foreign tourists and school groups.
The commemoration features several key public events leading up to the anniversary celebration on Thursday, November 27, 2025:
- Tuesday, November 25: Free public access to the museum will be offered, alongside a tree planting exercise on Gangama Hill to boost re-greening efforts.
- Wednesday, November 26: A community clean-up will be held in partnership with local schools, followed by an evening campfire at the museum site starting at 6 p.m., featuring storytelling, poetry, and acoustic performances.
- Thursday, November 27: The official ceremony will celebrate the museum’s first anniversary and solemnly mark 97 years of Semei Kakungulu’s enduring environmental legacy.
Nambuya Winnie, Senior Tourism Officer of Mbale City Council, emphasized the museum’s vital role in driving local tourism and economic activity.
“This museum is one of our attractions that bring numbers to Mbale City, that bring visitors from different regions,” Winnie stated.
She explained that tourists not only engage with Kakungulu’s history but also generate substantial local business—staying in hotels, using local transport like boda-bodas, and supporting petrol stations. “The museum benefits the community at large,” she affirmed.
