Documenting Indigenous knowledge on human health in Kiteezi community

Abstract

This study was conducted in Kiteezi Parish in Wakiso district. The aim of the project was to document the Indigenous Knowledge on Human Health in Kiteezi Community. The objectives of the project were to; find out the current form of documenting Indigenous Knowledge in Kiteezi Community, find out the various traditional medicine used in treating Human diseases in Kiteezi Community, find out the challenges facing documentation of Indigenous Knowledge in Kiteezi Communityanddocument the Indigenous Knowledge on Human Health in Kiteezi Community.A case study research design was used. The study used convenience sampling and random sampling technique to sample the respondents. Three data collection methods were used while collecting data and these included interview,observation methods and document reviewmethod. A total of 35 respondents were interviewed in the study and this included 10 herbalists, 5 traditional healers and 20 elders of the community. The findings indicated that book (22.9%) is the current form of documentation being used and most of Indigenous Knowledge on Human Health (71.4%) is not being documented. The most preferred form of documentation is book (85.7%). Most of the people in Kiteezi (40%) prefer using both Local herbs and western medicine for treating their diseases. The traditional medicines used in treating diseases include Omululuuza, Mulondo, Muvule, Jambula, Ekifa bakazi, Omutuba and Olukandwa. The challenges affecting documentation of Indigenous Knowledge on Human Healthin Kiteezi Community include; individualistic natureof indigenous knowledge, overdependence on oral method of transmission, misuse of the documented knowledge, lack of government support for indigenous knowledge. Strategies to improve documentation of Indigenous Knowledge include; recognition of IK communities, training of the indigenous people, government supportamong others.Most of the respondents (74.3 %) agreed that there is need of documentation of Indigenous Knowledge on Human Health. Benefits of documenting Indigenous Knowledge on Human Health included; increases accessibility to Indigenous Human Health Knowledge, preservation of the Indigenous Knowledge, reducing loss of Indigenous Knowledge. The study concluded that there was a need to document Indigenous Knowledge on Human Health in Kiteezi Community. The study recommendedthe following;IK should be researched and XIVbe thoroughly documented and made freely available to anyone who needs it, IK that has already been documented needs to be evaluated to confirm its efficacy and utility.