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What is appealing to the visitor is found among the varied natural attractions, local resources, talents and indigenous attributes of our community. Through visitor-community interaction, respective cultures are explored, ideas and information are exchanged, and new friends are made. More
Anakeleti Okuta was born in Akalabai village of the then Teso District, Eastern Province of Uganda in 1929 to Ilemet (father) and Aluga (mother). He was the third born of five children. The five children soon lost their father, guardian and mother in quick succession, leaving the five of them totally orphaned but under the care of their clan elders and extended family relations.
Anakaleti Okuta, despite the odds against him as a total orphan still saw it fit to go to school on his own accord and almost entirely at his own expense! Luckily, he was occasionally assisted through his education by an in-law to their clan, who noticed his potential. He also secured some money by growing cotton and supplemented his income by running errands. He also became adept at a gambling game of that time using cowry shells for money and generally acquired enough money to pay his school fees and stabilize and define his position in the community.
He was not able to go to Junior school because of financial constraints, so he joined the teacher training college for catholics in Madera, in present day Soroti District. He studied there for three years and qualified as a vernacular teacher in 1952, becoming the first trained teacher from his area and the most highly educated person at that time, hence the title Mwalimu. In his final year at the teacher training college, he was assisted to pay his fees by his guardian, a magnanimous act for which he was profusely thankful.
Anakeleti Okuta got married in church in 1954 and built his house which would turn out to be the first brick and iron-roofed house in Akalabai.
His teaching went as follows:
1953 – 1954 Atutur Primary School in present day Kumi District
1955 – 1957 Amucu Primary School in present day Amuria District
1958 Bukedea Demonstration School in present day Bukedea District
1959 – 1962 Promoted to Headmaster Koreng Primary School in present day Bukedea District
1963 – 1972 Kachonga Primary School in present day Bukedea District
1973 – 1977 Akuoro Primary School in present day Bukedea District
1978 – 1985 Ogooma Primary School in present day Kumi District
1986 – 1988 Kalungar Primary School in present day Kumi District
Anakeleti Okuta was a well respected person in the community being among the first to attain an educational qualification and also due to his wide exposure and experience. He was not a rich man by any means but he was recognized as an eminent and reasonably well-off person despite the burden of educating his many children.
In 1986 when the National Resistance Movement took over power in Uganda, he was elected as the Chairman of the Resistance Council of Akalabai Village, the name given to local councils at that time. Unfortunately, this put him in the firing line of the leaders of the insurgency that was raging in the area at that time and resulted in him getting abducted and killed by the rebels in 1988 curiously enough on June 3rd, which in Uganda is Martyrs Day! During this episode, his home was charged and all valuable property including a herd of cattle was raided. He was survived by fourteen children from three wives.
After his death, and because of the atrocious manner in which he was killed, his family abandoned their home in Akalabai and this was even made worse when Akalabai and other surrounding village were designated for evacuation by the Government forces in the raging fight with the insurgents. Due to neglect, weather and vandalism, the house collapsed but the site on which it stood is still recognizable and is the location where Mwalimu Okuta Education Foundation Centre will be built.
The most notable achievement in his life is in the field of education. The first child he sent to school was his nephew, the son of his sister, who completed primary school but failed to pursue his studies in Junior Secondary School out of his own negligence!
Anakeleti Okuta took education seriously but only managed to upgrade to a Grade II teacher through part-time education at Bishop Kitching Teacher Training College in present day Ngora District in the early 1970s. He however devoted his efforts and resources to the education of his children. His eldest four sons all attained University level education with two holding masters degrees. This was no mean feat. He also educated all his female children. He was also a good farmer and apart from being self-sufficient in food, he had surplus produce for sale, and this, with the proceeds from cotton sales, supplemented his salary and was able to cater for the education of his children.
He portrayed teaching as a noble profession and this impression was taken up by his children who all upon graduation took to teaching at various levels at one time or another. Unfortunately, most of his children were not present at his burial, a sad, somber and hasty activity not befitting a man of his stature as many notable persons had passed through his hands during his teaching career, spanning thirty six years.
This is precisely why the foundation is being set, mainly to promote the educational principles that he held dear and espoused and also as the only way his family and community can remember and maintain his legacy – especially as it is apparent that education which had a proud pioneer in Akalabai in the name of Anakeleti Okuta has been on the wane in the recent past for various reasons. This can be attributed to the after effects of the insurgency but more likely it is also a result of the low earnings of the people of Akalabai, which contributes to education not being given the priority it deserves.
The Mwalimu Okuta Education Foundation (MOEF) aims at addressing this situation by initially setting up a nursery school for pre-primary education and later establishing a fund from which children in quest of education may be assisted at all levels. The foundation also aims to design and support programs that enhance the provision of quality education at Akalabai Primary School and later progressively expanding such programs to other schools in the neighbourhood.
Details of his inspiring life and works can be shared with community members at Mwalimu Okuta Education Foundation Centre. Also, a film depicting the challenges, joys, tribulations and wonders in the lives of Anakeleti Okuta and his four siblings will be shown to visitors.
This will essentially be a cultural village to be sited at the center of the village to act as a living museum that will encourage people to conceive, establish and grow commercially viable sustainable tourism ventures that showcase culture, art, craft, and spiritual heritage of Akalabai.
The cultural village shall have a workshop where artisans shall come together for mutual exchange of skills and culture. Other than the workshop the cultural village shall have an auditorium/open air theatre and exhibition hall/room. The cultural village center shall help artisans in producing and selling traditional craft products.
Local groups shall be trained for its operation and management. Such teams shall over a period of time, with suitable training, be groomed for management and operation of a tourist information centre. This centre shall not only host art, craft and culture based events but also develop and promote new tourism products based on heritage interpretation.
Broadly, this shall serve as a tourist information centre, which shall facilitate special interest tourism to flourish. The house plan for the proposed tourist information centre is yet to be developed.
Our vision is to expose the local resources and talents, and make the concept of community tourism a reality for both the visitors and people of Akalabai. Thus we embrace eco-tourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, recreational tourism, heritage tourism, health tourism, farm tourism and special interest tourism.
In this regard, our visitors are exposed to the following variety of guided activities and interactions including others that may be arranged on special request:
Guided tour of the village: These give visitors the opportunity to hear about the unique aspects of local history and culture. The stories offer the visitor a wealth of information on beliefs, social values, cultural norms and interpersonal relationships. They illustrate how folklore is used by the community to reinforce beliefs, to develop a sense of security within a group and to establish social controls.
Trekking and birdwatching: This area is typically plain savannah grassland including swamps and woodlands with native plants and bird species, offering some beautiful trekking. Visitors learn about useful plants of the Teso plains and watch native birds at all times of the day.
Going to the local market: There are a number of village markets within a 1 km distance and more from Akalabai with each operating on a specific day of the week from Monday to Saturday. Depending on the distance, a walk, trek, cycling or motoring expedition to one of the markets provides the opportunity to experience the local trade bonanza. The trek may involve use of Akogo (local thumb piano) to give pace.
Local brew making: Visitors (Non-teetotalers only) are greeted with a calabash of a local brew, known as Ajon or Malwa, the later name being commonly used throughout Uganda. Thereafter, the brew specialist takes them through each stage of the brew making process, from managing the millet plantation, harvesting, drying, roasting, grinding, fermenting and brewing.
Tour of farmers’ fields: Visitors learn about and taste raw, roasted, baked or boiled fresh farm produce from local fields. They may help in the harvest and taste the local delicacies.
Herding cattle: The locals keep cattle for various purposes. Depending on the numbers, they may either be tethered or grazed as a herd by a herdsman. Visitors can let themselves be immersed in the stories of the life of a herdsman and/or cattle keeper.
Trekking: Trek the village paths and let your guide tell you about the plants and their medicinal and ceremonial uses. Alternatively, trek through the swamp and walk to a neighbouring village.
Village walking: Wander around the village with a local guide and learn about how this village came to be so different from other villages.
Performance arts: Join the village music groups in their regular practice, try playing the drum, akogo (thumb piano), arigirigi and adungu (string piano), or learn traditional dancing.
Art & craft: The village artisans take visitors through the process of production of specific art, craft and domestic articles. Such articles will include weaving, pottery, palm leaf work, traditional embroidery work, stonework, woodwork, etc.
Village women (women visitors only): Join a local woman in her daily routine; cooking, washing, taking care of the garden and children, collecting water and preparing local brew.
Local cuisine: Another activity with direct participation of women is cuisine. Local cuisine provides the opportunity to offer special cooking programmes for visitors. Alternatively, visitors will be provided local cuisine at suitable homes in the village. This shall provide local ambiance hence an opportunity for cultural exchange.
Village ceremonies: During ceremonies the village is a flurry of activity. By helping with the preparation visitors gain a greater appreciation of the ceremony and its cultural connotations.
John & Anne are constructing a contemporary country home in Akalabai village which when finished will be furnished and used as a homestay. The facility will have one master suite, one bedroom with private bathroom and 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom. All bathrooms will include western toilets and cold running water. The great room will be large enough with the necessary accessories. The large kitchen will have all the necessities for those who may wish to do their own cooking using a gas/electric cooker and oven. The house will have a large porch suitable for storytelling sessions with the locals. The home is in a five-acre orchard offering spectacular green surroundings. The orchard is so far planted with grafted mangoes, grafted avocados and pineapples.
Pending works to complete construction of ANJO Homestay include: wiring, plumbing, fitting windows and doors, plastering, painting, general finishes and furnishing.
Also, it is planned that ANJO Homestay will be equipped with 2 service vans (5-seater and 7-seater) as dedicated transport for visitors to Akalabai Village Tourism Initiative.
Although ANJO Homestay will be served by the national electricity grid, given its unreliability in the area, a back-up solar power system is required.
In addition, a groundwater system to supply a population of up-to 20,000 people is required, preferably using a solar-powered pumping system, for reliable water supply to ANJO Homestay, MOEF Centre and Nursery School, and the surrounding communities.
The required vans, solar power system and groundwater supply system are yet to be procured and installed and any donations towards this cause will be greatly appreciated
Welcome to Akalabai Village Tourism Initiative. Our community tourism program permeates all sectors of the local socio-economic setting. It seeks to build new levels of relationships between the host and the visitor.
It fosters opportunities at the community level for local people to participate more fully in the tourism industry. It is managed tourism in its profoundest sense, taking into account evolving travel trends in such areas as the environment, study and research, seniors travel and other special interests.
Our comprehensive tourism plan builds on available resources in terms of human capital, available skills (art, craft & culture) & cultural heritage. We have developed and designed various tourism products (link to tourism products). Enrichment and diversification of these tourism products further enriches the visitor’s experience qualitatively and enhances community benefits.
Our concept of homestay presents an opportunity for visitors to both receiving lodging and learning about the local history. We therefore pay special attention to the need for our visitors to know more about the place and have an in-depth experience of the environment, culture, tradition and spirituality associated with the place.
Akalabai is a choice destination for special interest tourists. Aware that special tourism requires careful organization, accurate and detailed information, and competent guides, we have a well developed guide and interpretative plan involving guides of various levels and categories and the local community.
Akalabai’s cultural heritage and its interpretation has different levels of significance; some with universal values, others of national, regional or local level. It is through interpretation that visitors understand culture and history of the place.
Culture is a part of our tourism program, both as an attraction and as an element in the environment. We present culture to the visitor through tangible and intangible elements, e.g. ancient buildings, craft items, art, tradition, lifestyle, behaviour, etc.
Management of tourism at Akalabai is done by a team of professional guides that is responsible for development of: itineraries and circuits; thematic packages of attractions; partnerships and network of stakeholders who contribute services; and taking care and arranging for stay and local travel of the visitors.
Sharing of responsibilities, benefits and development Impacts
While ANJO Homestay provides transport and primary accommodation and in-house services to the visitors (link to ANJO Homestay), ADEFO will manage and conduct all the other tourism products, activities and interactions with the village community and beyond (link to ADEFO).
All proceeds and donations to Akalabai Village Tourism Initiative are shared out amongst ANJO Homestay, Akalabai Development Forum (ADEFO), and Mwalimu Okuta Education Foundation (MOEF) (link to MOEF).
In this way, support to Akalabai Village Tourism Initiative is used to finance socio-economic activities through ADEFO and educational infrastructure and programs through MOEF for the benefit of the community. Also, participants and service providers to our visitors have the opportunity to earn direct income for goods and services provided.
ANJO Limited is constructing a contemporary country home in Akalabai village which when finished will be furnished and used as a homestay. The facility will have one master suite, one bedroom with private bathroom and 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom. All bathrooms will include western toilets and cold running water. The great room will be large enough with the necessary accessories. The large kitchen will have all the necessities for those who may wish to do their own cooking using a gas/electric cooker and oven. The house will have a large porch suitable for storytelling sessions with the locals. The home is in a five-acre orchard offering spectacular green surroundings. The orchard is so far planted with grafted mangoes, grafted avocados and pineapples. Pending works to complete construction of ANJO Homestay include: wiring, plumbing, fitting windows and doors, plastering, painting, general finishes and furnishing. Overall costs including purchase and transportation of items/materials and labour costs are estimated to be US$ 50,000. Current pictures of the facility are shown in Appendix 1. Although ANJO Homestay will be served by the national electricity grid, given its unreliability in the area,
Proceeds from the programme will among other things be used to support community-wide socio-economic development projects and activities under the auspices of Akalabai Development Forum (ADEFO), a local community based organization; and also to support infrastructure developments, programs and activities of Mwalimu Okuta Education Foundation (MOEF) ). The foundation was established in honour of the first teacher of Akalabai village, Anakeleti Okuta (1939 – 1988).
