Cultural leaders could be drawn into the fight against tribalism, religious intolerance, political incitement and historical grievances under a proposed national reconciliation framework developed by Gen Salim Saleh.
In the proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement, where Saleh is engaging all opposition political parties into a power-sharing deal, he wants Uganda’s traditional and cultural institutions to move beyond their customary and ceremonial responsibilities and become active participants in rebuilding relationships between communities divided by ethnicity, religion, regional differences and political rivalries.
The paper argues that cultural institutions command considerable grassroots influence, historical knowledge and moral authority that could be deployed to counter narratives that portray different communities as permanent enemies or competitors for political and economic opportunities.
One of the proposed responsibilities would be helping to take the agreement to ordinary Ugandans through community engagements, cultural gatherings and grassroots mobilization, ensuring that national reconciliation does not remain a conversation restricted to politicians, government officials and political negotiators.
Gen Sale, according to the 137-page document, wants cultural leaders to use their platforms to promote shared heritage and remind communities of historical connections that existed long before modern political divisions.
These include migration patterns, intermarriages, cross-border trade and other historical interactions through which different communities established social, economic and cultural relationships.
The intention is to challenge divisive narratives that present Uganda’s ethnic and regional communities as isolated groups with permanently conflicting interests.
Cultural institutions would also be expected to speak out against ethnic and religious incitement, particularly where political actors exploit people’s identities to mobilize support, create hostility or undermine peaceful coexistence.
The proposal effectively places traditional leaders among the institutions expected to discourage the weaponization of tribal, religious and regional identities during political competition.
On land conflicts, Gen Saleh wants cultural institutions to work with local authorities and mediation structures, including Kapeeka-type land bank committees, to help resolve disputes between landlords and occupants and other competing land interests.
This would involve supporting community-level dialogue, encouraging proper documentation of land interests and helping parties find negotiated solutions before disagreements escalate into prolonged hostility.
Another important responsibility proposed for cultural institutions is participating in the documentation of traumatic historical memories.
The paper recognizes that some communities continue to carry unresolved grievances arising from historical injustices, political violence and exclusion. Documenting these experiences is presented as part of a broader national healing process rather than allowing painful memories to remain unaddressed or become ammunition for future divisions.
Traditional institutions would also be expected to advocate for historically marginalized communities, bring their concerns into national dialogue and support reconciliation initiatives aimed at addressing longstanding grievances.
However, Saleh cautions against cultural institutions becoming instruments of elite political alliances or serving interests that do not represent the communities they claim to lead.
The proposed role is therefore not simply to mobilize cultural followers behind political arrangements, but to use the influence of traditional institutions to encourage dialogue, defend community interests and discourage manipulation of tribal and religious identities for political advantage.
The wider proposal places cultural institutions among the grassroots structures through which the proposed national settlement could reach communities, address historical grievances and build acceptance of political cooperation among political parties. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
