A Framework for Developing a Knowledge Base for Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in Uganda

Abstract

Interest is growing at national and international level in the role of
indigenous knowledge in participatory development. But information
scientists are paying more attention to the conceptual understanding
of indigenous knowledge than the practical aspects of building a
knowledge base for it. This is attributed to the absence of an agreed
framework for documenting indigenous knowledge. Consequently
documenting, preserving and disseminating indigenous knowledge
are less than satisfactory. A framework for developing a knowledge
base is needed to bring a combination of the best practices from the
traditional and modern knowledge. The article presents a framework
for documenting indigenous knowledge in Uganda. It raises issues to
document and using them to develop the framework. With such a
framework information scientists can document, preserve and
disseminate indigenous knowledge.