{UAH} Orugagara And The Culture Of Kwotera In Tooro: What EveryWoman Must Know!

Orugagara And The Culture Of Kwotera In Tooro: What Every Woman Must Know!

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Kwotera is deeply rooted in Tooro culture and traditions. It refers to the process of burning fragrant incense in bedrooms, and application of fragrant fumes to clothes. It is considered a sign of dignity for someone's clothes to have the fragrance of certain plants, especially the royal fragrance of "emigaju". In fact, back in the day, every household that had a married woman was expected to perform Kwotera, as it had social significance to the community. Guests feel more welcome and comfortable in a home that was clean and smelled nice.

 

The enactment of Kwotera to perfume clothes requires ORUGAGARA (an inverted large basket-like frame made from papyrus stems or reeds), special herbs, oils and equipment, as well as fire. Kwotera begins with the collection of special herbs, including those known as emigaju, eseeta, and enyakatuzi, among others. Also needed is a charcoal, gee and a small clay glazed mortar [ekiswa], in which the ingredients are mixed. A small piece of burning charcoal is dropped into the mixture in the mortar, which then catches fire and releases fragrant smoke. The mortar with the smoke is then placed under ORUGAGARA frame, which has an open grid of interlaced pattern to allow the smoke to rise freely through the lattice. The frame is then covered with a blanket and a bed sheet, which is then completely covered with clothes so that the smoke is trapped inside and suffuses the clothes. Sometimes, the orugagara frame is covered with a bark-cloth instead of clothes.

 

People whose clothes and bodies have the pleasant smell of emigaju are more attractive in intimate settings. Hence, Batooro women take great pride and care in the practice of Kwotera. Back in the day, every truly blessed housewife or woman was expected to perform the process of "okwotera kw'ekiswa" before going to bed at night. This involves preparation of fragrant herbs which are mixed and placed in the mortar, along with the burning charcoal. Then, after showering, a woman sits naked on a low mantelpiece and places the mortar between her legs, and covers her entire body with cloth, so that her body is infused with the fragrant smoke. She sits in the smoke for about an hour, or for as long as she can until her skin is sufficiently suffused with the fragrance. This royal fragrance perfume (Omugaju) in the official bedroom not only protected a woman's marriage but also refreshed the house with a royal scent.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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