Kagera Regional Commissioner Fatma Mwassa passionately outlines the vision and goals of the Ijuka Omuka Festival during her engaging appearance at Crown Media Studios. Photo: Courtesy
By Mutayoba Arbogast
On December 19, 2024, Bukoba municipality is set to host hundreds of attendees from across the country and abroad for the Ijuka Omuka (Remember Your Roots/Home) Festival.
Spanning from December 18 to 21, the festival carries the theme Make Kagera Great Again and aims to unite stakeholders in discussions to propel Kagera’s sustainable development and untapped investment opportunities.
Kagera Regional Commissioner Fatma Mwassa emphasized the festival's significance, highlighting its role in showcasing the government’s annual achievements, plans, and investment potential. “Kagera offers immense opportunities yet to be fully explored.
Our fertile soil can produce world-class coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon, while Lake Victoria presents untapped potential,” she stated during an interview with Crown Media’s Salim Kikeke in Dar es Salaam.
The festival coincides with the festive season when many locals return to their roots from other regions or abroad. Mwassa urged attendees to recognize the value of reconnecting with and investing in their home region. The event will also spotlight Kagera’s cultural heritage, including traditional drumming and storytelling.
An anonymous source among the festival’s key organizers revealed that it would also serve as a platform to acknowledge RC Mwassa’s dedication to monitoring development projects and ensuring their timely implementation. "She has been instrumental in fostering peace and overseeing projects that deliver real value,” the source said.
However, discussions are anticipated to touch on challenges affecting the region's development. Residents are keen to hear updates on Bukoba municipality’s infrastructure, particularly strategic projects, including the New Modern Kyakailabwa Stand, a large central market, and the Kanoni River rehabilitation.
While the ongoing construction of a 7 km four-lane tarmac road has been praised, concerns remain over the stalled rehabilitation of the old bus stand, which is outside the strategic initiative.
Critics argue that government projects in Kagera pale in comparison to those in other regions and hope the festival addresses this imbalance. With poverty affecting approximately 39% of households in the region, stakeholders hope Ijuka Omuka will spark strategies to uplift Kagera’s economy.
Adding to the festival’s vibrancy, renowned artists like Alikiba, Msaga Sumu, Bushoke, Saida Karoli, and Maua Chenkula are set to perform, bringing entertainment and cultural pride to the forefront.
This festival recalls the Kagera Investment Forum and Exhibition Week of 2019, led by then-RC Major General Marco Gaguti.
That initiative brought together traders from Tanzania and neighboring countries like DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya, aiming to position Kagera for economic progress.
While its long-term impact remains debatable, Ijuka Omuka offers a renewed opportunity to chart a transformative path for Kagera.
Will this year’s festival yield tangible results? For many, it represents a chance to reimagine Kagera’s future and break free from poverty, fostering unity and progress across the region.