AFRICE PUSHES FOR NATIONAL RATIFICATION OF A RESOLUTION TO PROTECT SACRED NATURAL SITES IN UGANDA

BY AFRICE ADMIN

In a significant move to safeguard Uganda’s cultural and ecological heritage, the African Institute for Culture and Ecology (AFRICE) has started pushing for national ratification of a resolution aimed at protecting the sacred natural sites.

The African Commission Resolution 372, passed in 2017, calls on African states to recognize and protect Sacred Natural Sites and Territories (SNST) and their custodial governance systems. The resolution emphasizes that Sacred Natural Sites must be protected for indigenous and traditional peoples to enjoy their rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People’s rights.

AFRICE has started to actively engage with key stakeholders through a series of meetings at both national and African regional levels. In January 2025, a high-level meeting was held at Esella Hotel in Kampala with officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Tourism, civil society organizations, and cultural leaders representing the Tooro, Buganda, Busoga, and Bamasaba Kingdoms.

During the meeting, AFRICE Executive Director Denis Tabaro who is also a practitioner of Earth Jurisprudence called for national ratification of the resolution.

“Protecting our sacred site is essential for preserving both our cultural heritage and our environment. Our work is built on the principle that Mother Nature is governed by its own laws that demand respect and stewardship. Ratifying this resolution at national level will empower communities and set a model for nature-centered governance,” stated Tabaro.

This call comes on the heels of international recognition by UN Assembly, which has lauded AFRICE’s pioneering efforts in advancing the rights of nature.

Under Section 4 of the National Environment Act (2019), Uganda became the first country in Africa to enshrine the rights of nature in its legislation. By legally acknowledging that nature has inherent rights to exist, thrive and evolve, Uganda sets a powerful precedent for sustainable and inclusive environmental governance.

Indigenous custodians and community-led protection

In Uganda’s Albertine Rift, local Bagungu communities are at the forefront of conserving sacred natural sites. These communities, known for their deep-rooted cultural practices, have spent five years engaging in inter-generational dialogues to revive and strengthen their traditional governance systems. They have mapped 32 sacred natural sites in Buliisa district which are not only spiritually significant but also vital havens for biodiversity.

In late 2020, the Buliisa District Council took a pioneering step by passing an ordinance that formally recognizes Bagungu customary laws. This ordinance protects vital wetlands and forests from destructive activities and establishes a co-governance body comprising local custodians and district officials to oversee the preservation of these ecologically sensitive areas.

Building on this success, AFRICE, together with community partners, has actively shared these achievements in regional workshops, including a recent meeting in Kenya organized by the African Biodiversity Network (ABN). Rodgers Kiiza, a custodian from Bugungu indigenous communities said the ordinance has empowered them to better safeguard their lands against threats from destructive industries.

Currently, The Gaia Foundation, African Biodiversity Network, and a core group of African Earth Jurisprudence (EJ) practitioners, in Kenya, Uganda, Bennin, Zimbabwe, S.Africa, Cameroon  and Ethiopia are accompanying custodians and their communities in:

AFRICE is working with ANARDE and Buliisa District to ensure that an Ordinance on protection of SNS is sanctioned by the office of the Attorney General.

As the national debate unfolds, AFRICE remains committed to working hand-in-hand with community leaders, parliamentarians, civil society organizations and international partners to drive lasting change.

ENDS//