Blacksmiths in Kabale district are demanding the government to recognize them and their activity in a bid to enhance tourism in the country.
Known to be practiced in Bukoora parish, Kitumba Sub County, Ndorwa West County, blacksmiths make various projects. With the use of indigenous technology of lighting fire on charcoal, and heating metallic objects, blacksmiths bend and cut heated metallic objects using the hammer and produce various objects such as knives, axes, hoes, pangas, saucepans, and spears among others The whole process takes several hours to allow objects to get wholly heated making them easy to mend and cut.
However, blacksmiths say despite the technology introduced by their ancestors even before the colonial error, it is facing extinction due to competition by the modernized industrial revolution.
Led by Moses Kasingu and Hilary Mackinnon Bahati residents of Hamuganda village in Bukoora parish, blacksmiths say once, the government takes an interest in preserving it under tourism heritage; it will generate income for both locals and the government and education purposes.
David Kwesiga Bahati, Ndorwa West County Member of Parliament and also the Minister of State of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives says that he has already tabled the request before the government for consideration since their blacksmithing activity also makes a positive cultural significance. Bahati also says that under “Small-scale industries,” the government will also look into measures of advancing technology to produce products.
