1. AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (IK) APPLICATION BY THE COMMUNITIES IN UGANDA By Joyce N. Muwanga Assistant Executive Secretary Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) A Paper Presented at the Global Distance Learning Course on IK in The Millennium Development Goals 28 March to 01 April, 2005

2. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background to the Presentation The presentation is based on the findings of the project on “Institutional Capacity Building for Integration of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) into the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP)” funded by the World Bank and implemented by Uganda National Council for Science and Technology from 2002 to 2004.

3. 2.0 The Concept of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) IK can be understood as the pool of beliefs, values, institutional and technological practices developed overtime by individuals and/or communities in a given locality for solving their problems. It is an important part of the lives of the communities, and forms part of their social capital and a main asset to invest in the struggle for their survival.

4. 3.0 The Concept of Communities in Uganda The term “communities” in Uganda is most used to refer to the rural-based population earning their livelihood from working on the land.

5. 4.0 The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Poverty Eradication Achievement of Universal Primary Education Promotion of Gender Equality in Education Reduction of Child Mortality and Improvement of Maternal Health Combating Malaria, HIV/AIDS & other Diseases Ensuring Environmental Sustainability and development of a global partnership for development

6. 5.0 IK APPLICATION BY COMMUNITIES IN SELECTED ECONOMIC SECTORS TO MEET MDGs 5.1 In the Agricultural Sector “Nakavundira” for soil fertility management in crop production Mulching with plant material e.g. dead banana leaves & stalks, coffee husks, cut elephant grass etc for crop production Use of scarecrows for crop protection from vermin e.g. monkeys in crop production Water harvesting channels for rainwater harvesting & irrigation in crop production

7. Applications in Agriculture (continued) Contour trash-lines from vegetative plant materials for erosion control & soil fertility management in crop production Use of wood ash for pest & disease control in crop production Use of salt in food preservation Use of ash, ant-hill soil for seed preservation in crop production Bird migration for weather indicators Granaries for food storage Agro-forestry for crop & animal production Local chicken raising

8. 5.2 In the Health Sector Reproductive health (antenatal & postnatal care). Numerous disease control & cures by use of different herbal concoctions (e.g. malaria, cough & colds, measles, etc) HIV/AIDS opportunistic diseases thru herbal medicine Cancer cure thru herbal medicine Livestock management thru use of herbs & herbal extractions to cure various animal ailments e.g. fever, as well as deworming. Etc

9. 5.3 In Natural Resource Management Use of “Taboos” and sacredness to protect natural resources Afforest ration for protection of water resources Agroforestry for natural resources conservation Etc.

10. 5.4 In Education Story telling for information flow “Omweso” for building and enhancing counting skills Craft-making for income generation Etc

11. 6.0 CHALLENGES FACED BY IK PRACTITIONERS & BEARERS Inadequate recognition/appreciation of the role of IK in socio-economic development process by Policy Makers & hence inadequate support to its promotion & integration in the development process. Inadequate financial resources & other resource inputs available to IK practitioners to allow for large scale operations Inadequate markets for IK products & services Inadequate protection of intellectual property in IK

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