The inner bark of the Mutuba tree (Ficus natalensis) is harvested
during the wet season and then, in a long and strenuous process,
beaten with different types of wooden mallets to give it a soft and
fine texture and an even terracotta colour. Craftsmen work in an open
shed to protect the bark from drying out too quickly. Barkcloth is
worn like a toga by both sexes, but women place a sash around the
waist. While common barkcloth is terracotta in colour, barkcloth of
kings and chiefs is dyed white or black and worn in a different style
to underline their status. The cloth is mainly worn at coronation and
healing ceremonies, funerals and cultural gatherings but is also used
for curtains, mosquito screens, bedding and storage.

The production of barkcloth, which was widely spread with workshops in
almost every village in the Buganda kingdom. With the introduction of
cotton cloth by Arab caravan traders in the nineteenth century,
production slowed and eventually faded out, limiting the use of
barkcloth to cultural and spiritual functions. Nevertheless, barkcloth
is still recognized among the Baganda community as a marker of
specific social and cultural traditions. In recent years, the
production of barkcloth has been greatly encouraged and promoted in
the Buganda kingdom.

Source: ICH - Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO