The State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra, has revealed that 43 pieces of Ugandan artifacts that were previously kept in the Netherlands for over 50 years, are set to be showcased at this year’s international Museum day as part of the country’s efforts to safeguard and showcase its cultural heritage.
During the launch of the International Museum Day celebrations on Wednesday that will be held in Jinja City on 18th May, Hon Mugarra noted that Uganda has strengthened global partnerships with museums in Europe and Africa to support conservation and preservation of cultural heritage.
“Through these partnerships, Uganda has become one of the few countries that has returned many artifacts in a short period; from UK—Cambridge Museums of Archaeology and Anthropology, Kenya—Late John Wilson’s Karamojong Collection of the 1960s, and recently repatriated objects from the Netherlands that were owned by Mr. Cor Blok, who collected artefacts from 1965 to 1967 while working at Butabika Hospital as a psychiatrist, that we are also unveiling today to the public,” he said.
Hon Mugarra said this year’s celebrations, themed “Museums: Uniting a Divided World,” and national theme “Museums as Bridges of Unity and Shared Heritage”, resonates with Uganda’s commitment to leveraging culture as a foundation for reconciliation, inclusion, and sustainable development.
“This year’s IMD themes and celebration is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products, promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” he said.
The acting Commissioner for Museums and Monuments, Ms Jackline Nyirachiza, said the celebrations will feature a number of build-up activities until the event climax on the 18th of May.
The programme will begin on May 5 with a public dialogue during the Third National Cultural Heritage Conference at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, under the theme “Urbanization Without Erasure: Architectural Heritage in Uganda’s Changing Urban Centres.
A heritage marathon is scheduled for May 10, starting from Kitante Primary School, while heritage quiz competitions for primary and secondary schools will take place on May 14 and 15 at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training College.
Additional activities will include heritage outreach programmes, exhibitions, and corporate social responsibility initiatives in Jinja on May 16 and 17.
The celebrations will culminate on May 18 with a procession from the Uganda Railway Museum to the Jinja Rugby Grounds, marking the climax of this year’s International Museum Day events.
