Faith Nyasuguta
Campaigners in Uganda are celebrating a landmark court ruling directing the removal of British colonial names from streets, monuments, and landmarks in the capital, Kampala. The ruling, delivered by High Court Justice Musa Ssekaana, mandates city authorities to rename these places to better reflect Uganda’s indigenous culture and identity.
The decision is the result of a five-year campaign advocating for the “decolonisation” of Uganda’s public spaces. Activists had long argued that honoring British colonial figures, many of whom were associated with oppression and cruelty, was an affront to the dignity of Ugandans.
Among those affected by the ruling are Maj Gen Henry Edward Colville, an early British commissioner of the Uganda Protectorate, and Frederick Lugard, a key colonial administrator known for his brutal policies in Africa.
The campaign gained momentum in 2020 when over 5,800 people signed a petition urging lawmakers to rename streets and remove colonial monuments. Last year, human rights activist John Ssempebwa filed a lawsuit, arguing that British-imposed names violated Ugandans’ right to dignity and freedom from cruel treatment. The court ruling is seen as a major victory for Ugandan sovereignty and historical justice.
Prominent lawyer and campaigner Apollo Makubuya hailed the ruling as a critical step toward reclaiming Uganda’s heritage. “Breaking free from colonial exploitation and oppression requires embracing names that truly reflect Uganda’s independence and cultural identity,” he said. He emphasized that continuing to honor colonial-era figures reinforced a legacy of injustice and impunity.
Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, also supported the ruling but expressed disappointment that the judge did not provide a detailed judgment addressing historical injustices. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of moving forward.
“We must preserve our history, but we do not need to celebrate those who brutalized Ugandans,” he said. Lukwago believes the ruling is long overdue and represents an opportunity to rewrite Uganda’s urban landscape in a way that honors its heroes rather than its oppressors.
However, not everyone agrees with the decision. Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights lawyer, criticized the ruling as a symbolic and revisionist approach. He argued that rather than erasing colonial era names, Uganda should keep them as reminders of the past. “We must not engage in a selective rewriting of history,” he said. “Our history is what it is, and we need to see it, acknowledge it, and learn from it, rather than trying to erase it.”
Despite the debate, the ruling marks a significant moment in Uganda’s post-colonial journey. It highlights the growing call for African nations to reclaim their narratives and assert their cultural and historical independence.
RELATED:
