Our Story
The Teso Culture Hub was created by learners of Atiira Seed Secondary School ICT Club, Serere District. Inspired by the need to safeguard Teso culture, the project combines traditional wisdom with modern ICT skills to document and share the rich heritage of the Iteso people. This initiative was born out of a community realization that without deliberate action, much of the cultural knowledge and identity could disappear in the next generation.
Why It Matters
- 📉 Cultural Erosion: Teso traditions are gradually fading among the youth due to modernization and globalization.
- 📚 Lack of Central Repository: There is no single accessible source for cultural knowledge in Teso.
- ⚠️ Heritage Under Threat: Sacred sites and shrines face neglect and destruction (e.g., Nyero Rock Paintings and shrines in Katakwi).
- 👩🎓 Youth Unemployment: Nearly 58% of Teso youth are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Yet culture could provide opportunities in tourism, education, arts, and innovation.
Our Objectives
The Teso Culture Hub was founded with four key goals:
- Preserve and document cultural practices and traditions in digital form.
- Create an engaging learning platform for schools, researchers, and communities.
- Promote cultural tourism to open new pathways for youth employment and local development.
- Use ICT tools to empower youth and strengthen community identity.
Innovation & Creativity
What makes this hub special?
- ✨ First digital hub dedicated to Iteso culture.
- 🖥️ ICT-powered preservation: integrating multimedia, maps, and storytelling.
- 👩👩👧👦 Intergenerational: connects elders, youth, and diaspora.
- 🎨 Creative economy: promotes crafts, music, performances, and entrepreneurship.
Alignment with Global & National Goals
The hub directly contributes to:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education
- SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth
- SDG 9 – Innovation & Infrastructure
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities
- SDG 16 – Peace & Inclusive Societies
It also supports Uganda’s NDP III focus areas:
- Human Capital Development
- Tourism Promotion
- Community Mobilization
- Digital Transformation
Community-Driven Approach
This hub is not just a school project—it is a community movement. Elders, artists, teachers, and students contribute to the stories, music, and documentation. The diaspora is also encouraged to share experiences, photos, and memories to enrich the archive.