Mbale, Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has applauded Matongo Wood Works Company Limited, a local business in Mbale, for reviving Uganda’s traditional wooden craft industry. The company, founded by Stella Teromu and Elizabeth Karunga, has gained national attention for producing strong and beautiful handmade wooden utensils such as orutatika and entatika.
During his visit to the company on Sunday, President Museveni expressed deep admiration for the women’s craftsmanship, describing their work as an inspiring example of cultural pride and economic independence. He emphasized that such local innovations represent true Ugandan identity and help reduce dependence on imported plastic and silicone products.
“I congratulate Matongo Wood Works Company Limited for reviving our African heritage through the production of high-quality traditional household items like orutatika (wooden bowls) and entatika (unbreakable utensils),” President Museveni said.
Accompanied by his daughter Natasha Karugire, the President met with the two founders at Mbale State Lodge, where they showcased their unique wooden creations. Museveni praised their efforts for restoring traditional values that had been lost to imported goods, describing the work as both art and national pride.
“They are restoring cultural pride that had been eroded by imported products. Their creativity is bringing back authentic utensils that once defined our homes — esiwani, ebakuri, entsimbo — strong, durable, and part of our identity,” he added.
Museveni also criticized the quality of imported items, calling them weak and short-lived compared to the durability and authenticity of locally made products. He stressed the government’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs who focus on quality and promote Uganda’s self-reliance.
“What Matongo is doing is not just art; it is quality, identity, and pride. We shall continue supporting local producers who reduce dependence on foreign plastics and silicone products,” the President emphasized.
The visit comes as part of Museveni’s ongoing tours and rallies across Uganda, where he continues to promote local industry, job creation, and cultural preservation. His endorsement of Matongo Wood Works reflects a broader national agenda of boosting Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) initiatives, which aim to strengthen domestic manufacturing and promote local talent.
Teromu and Karunga, the founders of Matongo Wood Works, expressed gratitude to the President for recognizing their work. They said their mission is to inspire young Ugandans to embrace craftsmanship and rediscover the beauty and functionality of traditional materials.
The company’s products, made from carefully selected local wood, are known for their strength, smooth finishing, and long-lasting quality offering an eco-friendly alternative to plastic kitchenware.
Museveni’s recognition of Matongo Wood Works highlights the importance of cultural industries in Uganda’s development.
I congratulate Matongo Wood Works Company Limited for reviving our African heritage through the production of high-quality traditional household items like orutatika (wooden bowls) and entatika (unbreakable utensils).
Together with my daughter Natasha Karugire, I met Ms. Stella… pic.twitter.com/5D8iQsb8jz
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) November 9, 2025
By valuing traditional craftsmanship, Uganda continues to balance progress with heritage, ensuring that modernization does not erase the nation’s cultural roots.