As part of the Withstanding Change: Heritage Amongst Climate Uncertainty project, the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) has announced the official opening of the Semei Kakungulu Museum located near Mbale in Eastern Uganda. The museum celebrates the life and work of Semei Kakungulu, an environmentalist and a key figure in Uganda’s early colonial history.
Supported by the Cultural Protection Fund, Withstanding Change: Heritage Amongst Climate Uncertainty is a project from the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO), which has twinned the National Trust in the UK with cultural heritage sites in Egypt, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Uganda and Jordan. In a process of mutual learning and exchange, the international partners are working to restore sites threatened by climate change.
In partnership with the Semei Kakungulu family, the CCFU team has been working to restore the Semei Kakungulu heritage site to make it more resilient to climate change. Semei Kakungulu was a key figure in Uganda’s early colonial history and an environmentalist, who planted vast groves of mvule trees and promoted the use of herbal medicine.
Spread across 3.5 acres, the museum features four heritage zones, offering an immersive experience that combines history, nature, and beauty. Visitors can explore the Nyanja Eradde Information Centre, the historic building housing most artefacts, a breathtaking view of Mbale city, and a trail to discover the remnants of the first Abayudaya synagogue.
The Semei Kakungulu Museum is expected to attract tourists from around the world, contributing to the growth of Uganda's tourism industry and local economic development.
Find out more about the Semei Kakungulu Museum
