The independence monument
Before independence, Uganda was colonized by Britain during the 1890’s. Captain Frederick Lugard, an administrator of Imperial British East African Company (IBEAC), raised the British Flag at a fort he established on Old Kampala hill and declared Uganda a British protectorate.
Uganda got her independence in 1962 and it was welcomed with happiness and joy. Songs of jubilation and celebration were heard in all corners of the country. Gregory Maloba put up an independence monument to signify the independent Uganda. It was instituted in the few months prior to 9th October 1962 event. A huge towering concrete sculpture is symbolic in nature and it has several meanings attached to it.
It shows a woman standing on ground while lifting up a baby in air. The woman with a roping around her body looks at a little boy in her hand who raises his hands in triumphant jubilation. The woman is mirroring the firm foundation that Uganda as country stands. The loosen body of the woman shows freedom from the bondage colonialism.
According to Marion I. Arnold, in the book, Art in Eastern Africa, the female figure with the child, growing from earth like a giant forest tree signify the motherland. The mother, standing astride, has both legs firmly attached to the ground strengthening her. Meaning Uganda is firm through the ages and not given to be moved now or in the future.
The monument is located along Speke road opposite the Grand Imperial hotel. It is open 24hours and has a little garden in case you want to have a picnic in its shadow. The Independence Monument is printed at the back of Uganda’s currency notes. It was funded by Mr. Gordon Wavaamuno, the Bank of Uganda and KCC.
Sir Edward Frederick Mutesa II Monument
From 19th, November 1924, Sir Edward was the Kabaka of Buganda until his death. He was the only man in Uganda to have two titles. He had trained in the British military techniques and the colonialised had hoped to use him to control the people of Uganda. Sir Edward led the people of Uganda to independence.
This monument was put up to commemorate Sir Edward Mutesa II as the first president of the independent Uganda and the 35th King of the Kingdom of Buganda for his work towards the struggle for independence in Uganda. Located at the Speke road and Nile Avenue Junction next to the independence monument. The statue tells a story of the first president of Uganda who was also a Kabaka at the same time. Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi unveiled this Monument in 2007.
World War Memorial
World War Memorial Monument commemorates those lost in World War II. It is printed at the back of 5,000 Uganda shillings note. It is the oldest monument in Kampala built by the British colonial government in 1945 in memory of Ugandans who died supporting British soldiers during the world wars.
It is located along Kampala road next to the Central Police Station and heavily guarded by Ugandan military. Only small groups of people are allowed to enter at once and visitors are urged to maintain silence while there.
The Centenary Monument
This is found in the famous Centenary Park along Jinja road in close proximity to Hotel Africana. It commemorates the centenary of the Kampala City Council, the governing body of Kampala City. This feature was designed by a Makerere University Artist, Sylvia Katende and it stretches up to 6 feet.
The Stride
This is located in between Kampala Serena Hotel and the Parliamentary gardens and was put up in commemoration of the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2007. It was uncovered by the Queen of England and it is so far the most expensive monument in Uganda with a total cost of 150 million Uganda Shillings. The works of the monument was contracted to Kann Artists by the tourism industry prior to the country’s historic hosting of the Commonwealth Head of States in November 2007, and was done by Maria Naita, David Kigozi and Segamwenge Henry in collaboration with other artists. The wife, husband and son moving forward indicate that common wealth countries are developing together as a family. With cloths wrapped around them in the same way natives used to dress before the introduction of the literacy culture in the country, it is through their son who is holding a book that the parents in the monument seem to perceive a brighter future.
The Statue of Leadership
It is situated in the face of Amber House along Kampala Road commemorating the introduction of electricity in Kampala. The sculpture features Sir Apollo Kaggwa the Prime Minister of Buganda from 1890 – 1926. He is celebrated for having advocated for the extension of electricity and purified water to the Kingdom of Buganda amidst critics from the local Baganda who thought he was wasting time on unnecessary things instead of requesting for gold and guns. The 7 feet monument was facilitated by Electricity body with a hand from National Water and was uncovered in 2002 by the then Minister of Energy Hon. Saida Bbumba.
Using his position as the Katikiro in the 1890’s up to the mid 1920’s, he based his own vision and foresight for development to persuade the people of Buganda to embrace Christianity and all the development that came with it. He also encouraged Ugandans to grow coffee as a cash crop. Although he didn’t live to experience 1962, his vision for self-governance Uganda, through providing his own land to set up schools that would later create a platform for Ugandans to get educated and then campaign for self-governance, couldn’t be ignored.
Education Monuments
Different learning institutes contain monuments depicting the role of education in Uganda. Kyambogo University had a monument with three kids struggling to touch a book and it was put up in commemoration of 100 years of the education sector in Uganda. This monument was unveiled by Kintu Musoke in 1996.
Also Makerere University has the Monument titled Hatching a new generation in front of college of Natural Sciences. It depicts the new dawn in the world of academics in Uganda with rising of many institutions under the example of the fully established Makerere University.
The Journey
Another monument, which is also the newest in Kampala, is located on the much secured independence grounds of the Kololo airstrip. Themed The Journey this monument depicts five youthful individuals, among which three of them are carrying a flag, taking steps up on a pedestal.
“The five youthful individuals represent the five decades Uganda has passed through as an independent state,” elaborates Dr Kyeyune who worked together with General Elly Tumwine and other artists on this one.
He goes ahead and explains that the story behind the monument is that of inspiration. It tells of the long journey that Uganda has taken to reach where it is today: “It has not been a smooth flow from 9th October 1962 to date. Uganda has been through thick and thin, but a nation still has to grow,” he adds.