Engabu Za Tooro has been accredited by UNESCO which to provide advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Rwagweri (Right) with other dignitaries at a cultural function organised by Engabu Za Tooro
The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro, Stephen Rwagweri says the accreditation will help his organisation receive support to identify characteristics of cultural heritage of Rwenzori region for international recognition and support.
Engabu Za Tooro or Toor Youth Platform for Action is a cultural Non Governmental Organisations based in Fort Portal and operating in the Rwenzori region.
Rwagweri says Engabu Za Tooro will also be supported to identify funding for the protection of the Rwenzori region people cultural heritage.
Rwagweri says the recognition has also taken Rwenzori region at the international level because Engabu Za Tooro is the only institution in East African and one of the four institutions on the African continent to be accredited by UNESCO.
The organization has also been invited to the convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage organised by UNESCO in Nairobi Kenya from 15th to 19th November, 2010. The convention will help allocate funding to governments and set and strengthen international cultural policies for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.
Engabu Za Tooro was also last year (2009) accredited by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on its Intergovernmental committee on intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore to act as an observer. WIPO is also an arm of the United Nations.
Also see Rwagweri starts Tooro Cultural center in western Uganda