Former army commander Gen David Sejusa has raised concern over what he described as the gradual loss of Uganda’s cultural identity, warning that local languages, traditions and customs could disappear if communities fail to preserve them.

Sejusa made the remarks during the burial of Lay Canon Christopher Kabirisi, where he spoke about the importance of protecting cultural values and passing them on to future generations.

The former senior military officer warned that some Ugandan cultures, including the Ankole culture and Runyankore language, could face serious decline if deliberate efforts are not made to promote and preserve them.

He said that within a generation, communities could lose important parts of their identity if younger people are not encouraged to learn and embrace their traditional languages and practices.

To explain his concerns, Sejusa shared an experience from an interracial wedding involving his friend George, who had married a Korean woman.

Sejusa said he attended the wedding and was seated with the groom at the high table when guests were served a meal that was unfamiliar to him.

According to Sejusa, he asked about the food and was informed that it was dog meat, a delicacy in some cultures.

“I asked someone what it was, and it turned out it was dog meat sizzling on the plate,” Sejusa said.

He recalled telling his friend George that he was about to eat dog meat, saying the groom walked away briefly, but he later returned after Sejusa had already eaten his portion.

Sejusa used the experience to highlight how cultural differences are increasingly becoming part of modern Ugandan families through interracial marriages.

He argued that while interactions with other cultures are part of globalisation, Ugandans must also work harder to protect their own traditions and values.

The former army chief said cultural institutions play an important role in preserving identity and urged leaders to support structures that promote local cultures.

He called on President Yoweri Museveni to consider restoring a traditional leadership structure for Ankole, saying such an institution could help protect the region’s cultural heritage.

“Perhaps the President could consider reviving our lost Nkore kingdom or chiefdoms, but there must be some organisation,” Sejusa said.

Ankole remains one of Uganda’s major historical kingdoms that has not been restored since the abolition of traditional institutions in the 1960s, with debates over its restoration continuing over the years.

Sejusa warned that the Runyankore language could decline if families stop teaching it to younger generations and communities fail to promote its use.

“If we remain like this, in 30 years, there will not be a single Munyakore who speaks Runyankore in this land. God help us figure this out,” he said.

The former general also criticised changing funeral practices in Uganda, arguing that some traditional mourning customs have been replaced by celebrations that do not reflect the seriousness of loss.

He said that funerals should remain moments for mourning and remembering the deceased, while celebrations of a person’s life should happen after the burial.

“When an old man like this dies, people dress well and call it a celebration. But the celebration should come afterwards, not at the funeral. At the funeral, there should be weeping,” Sejusa said.

He recalled that in the past, mourners expressed grief through practices such as shaving their heads and tearing clothes, saying such traditions represented deep respect for the departed.

Sejusa argued that embracing Christianity and modern lifestyles should not mean abandoning every traditional practice, adding that cultural preservation remains important for future generations.

He cited the biblical story of Jesus weeping after the death of Lazarus as an example that mourning and grief are part of human experience.

The remarks by Gen Sejusa have sparked discussions about the balance between modern lifestyles, religious influences and the preservation of Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage.