Situated in Kumi District in eastern Uganda, the Nyero rock paintings are one of the most significant rock art in Uganda. Nyero rock paintings are attributed to Batwa who are of the Pygmy origin, often illustrated in red pigment. The Nyero rock paintings improved the cultural identity of the African, Ugandan, and Iteso people. Although these arts have been there before 1250 CE they weren’t documented until 1913. On September 10, 1997, the Nyero rock paintings site was added to the Cultural division of the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.
It is said that the rock sites are a sacred sanctuary of the gods. It is believed that the Iteso tribe of Nyero would offer sacrifices to the gods of misfortune, rain, and blessings. It consists of six shelters. Its main shelter is a vertical rock with an overhang that protects the paintings from direct rain. There are also rocks in front and its side, safeguarding the art from direct sunlight.
The Nyero rock paintings are displayed on the obverse of the Uganda 1,000 Shilling banknote. The note is part of the Bank of Uganda’s 2010-2019 issues introduced by the Bank of Uganda to combat counterfeiting, making the country the first in Africa to use the ultra-modern SPARK security feature. The note’s obverse also displays a profile of a man wearing a Karimojong headdress, savannah grassland, and the national emblem.
The note’s reverse highlights antelopes and the National Independence monument. It also depicts a sun and a map. Just like its obverse, the note’s reverse is also designed with a profile of a man wearing a Karimojong headdress.
Printed by De La Rue, the 1000-shilling note bears a red-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized BOU I and a watermark that reflects a crested crane, an electrotype 1000, and Cornerstones.
