Say "culture" and people might imagine a group of traditional bottom-shakers doing a dance they have seen hundreds of times before. Or an old fellow practicing things that priests do not really appreciate. Or just anything brownish, a bit smelly and ... expired.

Well, at Edirisa we see culture in a slightly different light: as a way of life, a mix of traditional and modern, a foundation to work on. We are one of those few development organisations (and even fewer businesses) that put culture in the centre.

This isn't (yet) something very hip and promotable. Ugandans and tourists alike can discard you just too easily. So we need to shout, provoke, challenge.

Look for the craziest building in Kabale Town and you will find us. Ask who on Earth would be wasting time on computer games about Pygmies, and Edirisa will be the answer. Think of who could make Internet users mark primary school cultural compositions - and here we are.

Why bother? Because this wonderful Uganda will never ever develop if our dear Ugandans do not start appreciating where they come from. If you agree that it isn't wise to imitate "former" colonial masters without properly understanding their culture, then you are one of us.

So, we are focused on cultural self-respect and respect for other cultures, and we want our actions to speak for themselves.

We run a "museum hostel" - a pleasant place arranged around the cultural museum of the Bakiga. Every other year we organise "Through Children's Eyes", a district-wide primary school competition that encourages pupils to explore their cultural heritage. We offer "Learn From Africa", a two-week cultural tourism experience that has no known match. We take people to "canoe trekkings" deep into villages and discuss life there. We have published an album for Amaraka, a local music group. We do fair trade crafts, and many other things.

Please check our daily Blog at www.edirisa.org - and become one of us.