Supporters have hailed a court decision to remove British colonial monuments from Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and rename streets that honor “criminals and historical figures.”
In last week’s high court ruling, Justice Musa Ssekaana instructed the city authorities to erase the names of British figures from streets, monuments, and other landmarks. This includes Major General Henry Edward Colville, an early commissioner of the Uganda protectorate, and Frederick Lugard, a well-known colonial official in Africa with a reputation for cruelty. New names that reflect Uganda’s culture will replace the old ones after the ruling, which marked the end of a five-year campaign.
In 2020, over 5,800 people signed a petition requesting that MPs “decolonize and rename” the numerous statutes and streets honoring colonialists. John Ssempebwa, a human rights activist, filed a lawsuit in Kampala last year, claiming that roads and parks named by the British during colonial times violated Ugandans’ rights to dignity and freedom from cruel treatment.
Apollo Makubuya, a lawyer for the campaign, stated, “This ruling represents a significant step forward in recognizing human dignity and combating colonial injustices. It is essential to break free from the legacy of colonial exploitation, oppression, and impunity by embracing names that truly reflect Uganda’s independence and cultural identity.”
The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, expressed disappointment that the judge didn’t provide a detailed judgment addressing historical injustices and those who resisted the British rulers. “I believe we can keep our history and records, but we shouldn’t celebrate individuals who brutalized Ugandans,” he stated.
However, Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights lawyer in Kampala, disagreed, arguing that the court order was a “futile… symbolic” endeavor. “Let’s leave them as they are, let us see them as a constant reminder of our past. We must remember that path and not erase it in order to move forward,” he said.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/mar/04/campaigners-celebrate-court-ruling-to-decolonise-kampala-uganda
