Obuntubulamu: the Moral Concept and Way of Life()

With over 65 ethnic groups, Uganda is a diverse country. However, despite the differences in some specifics, there is wide agreement on a number of fundamental moral values. Even before colonialism enveloped us into one country, these values enabled our communities to live together in relative harmony for several generations. Whereas our forbearers could have had their own challenges, and while some of the values they held then may not be appropriate given what we may know better in some regards today and the irreversible changes that have happened, there is a lot we can still learn from them for modern times without necessarily demanding a return to the past. This handbook aims at explaining the concept and practice of obuntubulamu so as to provide some moral reflections on how obuntubulamu can guide the individual and social behaviour of girls and boys, women and men in the prevailing social context today. Basing on rich consultations with some key custodians of culture from the various Ugandan ethnolinguistic groups, the handbook highlights and explains what emerged as the key values constituting obuntubulamu.

Authoured by: Jimmy Ssentongo Spire , The Nnabagereka Development Foundation

Academic units: School of Postgraduate Studies and Research