Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

174 Carved wooden drums and trade in Mpigi district, Uganda

In the late 1970s, the Ugandan government got involved in this business

and opened the Uganda Craft Shop (now The Grand Imperial Hotel). Government

interest arose because of the good foreign market at that time and the increased

tourism influx. This boom, however, did not last long because of the general

collapse of the Ugandan economy following the military coup in 1971 and the

expulsion of Asians in 1972. But these events did not mark the end of the drum

industry because the Akamba remained active in the drum trade up to 1979.

Since the early 1990s, the industry has expanded, most of the products being

bought by tourists. Political stability and economic recovery since 1986 and

growth in the tourism industry have helped to sustain the drum trade in Uganda.

Benefits from the drum making industry

The most important impact of drum making has been its ability to generate gainful

employment for over 300 people, especially remote area dwellers and those with

little or no formal education. Between September 1999 and October 2000 drum

sales from this area alone amounted to US$11,000. Drum making is an important

income earning opportunity for local people, especially since agricultural

productivity was low in the last decade because of coffee wilt disease and banana

weevil attack and there are few income generating options available to them.

The second important benefit to producers is of social and psychological

nature. The creative and flexible nature of drum making bestows a variety of

personal benefits including a sense of identity, self-reliance, self-awareness,

empowerment, confidence, respect and cultural self-esteem. Drum making

has elevated the social status of individual producer households. For example,

two old men, mzee Gayira and mzee Miiro, are known in the area as the first

people to develop drum making culture and trade in Mpumudde area. Various

individual attributes have also been enhanced including entrepreneurship,

initiative, leadership, risk-taking and management skills.

Photo 2. Tables with musical instruments in the background (Photo P. Omeja)

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