ANCIENT AFRICAN TRADITIONAL THEATER
The theatre at kitara tourism square presents a fascinating account of indigenous medical knowledge and surgical practices in the historic Bunyoro kingdom. At the center of the exhibition is the story of a successful caesarean section reportedly performed in 1879 by indigenous healers, in which both the mother and the child survived.
The operation wad carries out by experienced elders who possessed traditional knowledge of surgery and healing. Before attending to the woman, the elders are said to have bathed themselves as apart of the preparations and remained unclothed during the procedure to reduce the risk of transferring dirt and contaminants to the patient.
The woman was covered with bark cloth for privacy and protection while the operation was performed.
A sharp reed was used as the surgical blade, demonstrating how locally available materials were adopted for medical purpose. Banana wine was reportedly use to partially sedate the operation, traditional medicinal herbs were applied to the wound to support healing, the calabash displayed in the theatre were the containments used for holding the herbs prepared for application to the patient.
The exhibition also highlights the traditional methods reportedly used to close the surgical wound. The heads of red ants were used to bring edges of the wound together, helping to hold the wound closed after the operation. The traditional beds displayed in the theatre further illustrate how patients were cared for and allowed to recover following treatment.
The woman is presented as the first recorded patient to undergo this type of operation in Uganda. At a time when modern hospitals surgical theatres and modern medical equipment were not hospitals surgical theatre and modern medical equipment were not available, the operations demonstrated the advanced practical knowledge possessed by indigenous healers in Bunyoro.
The historical account makes the theater an important educational attraction at kitara tourism square. It allows visitors to explore the medical knowledge, creativity and resourcefulness of the people of the Bunyoro kingdom and appreciate the role of indigenous knowledge in Uganda early history of surgery.