Inzu Masaaba United Kingdom Association exhibiting at the Uganda convention in UK – 13th Sept 2014

The organisers of the Ugandan UK Convention welcome on board our new exhibitor the Inzu Masaaba United Kingdom Association [IMUKA]. One of the objectives of the convention is to harness Diasporas cultural capital by promoting cultural ambassadors that market Uganda through music, language and art and encourage Ugandans in the Diaspora to promote a positive image of their nation. And as well as to  demonstrate and promote philanthropy in Uganda as an integral strategy for permanent wealth-creation for social development.

IMUKA is keen on propagating interest and catalyzing opportunities, by promoting networking, exchange of ideologies and collaboration between stakeholders, through the establishment of lateral partnerships within Masaabaland.

Bamasaaba in UK and Ireland are ardent on the advancement and formation of strong international alliances, innovative technological techniques, evidence based proficiency and improved facilities, to transform natural resources and products such as organic Arabica Coffee into goods of eminence.

IMUKA aims to harness European expertise and act as a consultative consortium for synchronization of relevant information pertinent to a systematic dynamic approach for effectiveness, sustainability, engagements and optimized outcomes.

Who are Bamasaaba?

• Bamasaaba are Bantu people in eastern Uganda living adjacent to Mount Elgon, also known as Masaaba by the indigenous people.
• The name Bamasaaba means, “that of Masaaba/Mount Elgon. Masaaba being the name of the legendary father of the Bamasaaba.
• They geographically occupy the Ugandan districts of Mbale, Sironko, Bududa, Manafwa and Bulambuli, statistically the most densely populated region of the country, with 250 people per sq. kilometer and also comprise of Babukusu in western Kenya.
• They face a problem of dense population and minimal land with a fragile ecosystem attributable to extreme terrain steepness.

What is IMUKA   

• INZU MASAABA UNITED KINGDOM [IMUKA] a philanthropic organization registered with UK Companies House, was founded by members of Bamasaaba community in the UK, proactively acknowledging the necessity to propagate Bamasaaba culture and language, and respond to a diversity of needs in Masaabaland, with a vision to holistically improve the welfare of the Bamasaaba community.
• IMUKA is committed to enabling a cohesive cultural enrichment and solidarity of Bamasaaba, to propel aspirations targeting grass root amenities, community empowerment and regional advancement.
• IMUKA aims to combat environmental disadvantages and challenges imposing negative impacts on the community, advance socio-economic development and combat poverty through ventures aimed at increasing income at individual household level.
• IMUKA a social group for Bamasaaba, affiliates, associates and friends, will devote to promote networking and collaborative relationships of advantage to its members, ardent on mutual respect, professional integrity, transparency, accountability, value of diversity and recognition of the vast range of ideologies in Masaabaland, independent of any religious, political, clan or other partisan affiliation.

Economic activity

• Bamasaaba are predominantly subsistence farmers. The highlands altitude and steep mountain slopes with tropical ecology and abundant bimodal rain favor production of the famous high quality organic Arabica coffee, the main cash crop in the country.
• Banana is mainly produced for consumption, with trivial sale, while bamboo shoots harvested from the mountain for food remains an untapped potential with prospects of use as a raw material in a range of products.
• Increasing population has however led to over cultivation, modification of the ecosystem, diminished soil strength, intense land degradation and deforestation.
• An example of the effects of these anthropogenic variables is evident in the serious hazardous landslides triggered in Bududa district, with enormous socio-economic, physical and environmental detriment, leading to loss of life, destruction of property, washing away farmlands and damage to infrastructure.
• The agricultural resource base has hence been shrinking, leaving people impoverished with direct and indirect impacts including post-traumatic experiences, living in fear and displacement.

For more information visit: www.imuka.org