The Department of Museums and Monuments under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities is, for the first time, publicly exhibiting some of the artifacts that were repatriated from Cambridge University Museum in June 2024.
Dubiously acquired during the 1890s and 1900s by British colonial administrators, missionaries, anthropologists and soldiers, these artifacts lay in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for over 100 years before the repatriation.
The repatriation negotiations between the Uganda Museum and the Cambridge began in 2019 through Michigan University, with funding from the Andrew Mellon Foundation.
The returned artifacts were selected by two Ugandan curators in November 2022.
Of the 39 repatriated items, 4 are being exhibited at the ongoing Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) at the Speke Resort Convention Center in Munyonyo.
These include the famous head gear made of human hair and traditional ornaments, worn by the Chief of Lango in the early 1930s which was taken to England in 1937, a royal drum from Bunyoro embellished with cowrie shells, a royal mace (Ddamula) that is believed to have belonged to and used by the former Prime Minister of Buganda Sir Apollo Kaggwa, and a traditional clay pot known as Enjemeko from Ankole.
Speaking to Prime News during the exhibition, David Halongo from the Museums and Monuments Department said they choose POATE to exhibit so that more members of the public can learn more about the relics.
“Many people have been travelling to the UK and spotting Ugandan cultural items in these foreign museums, wondering why and how they got there. We are using the POATE platform to explain to people who have not been following the repatriation process the how and why,” Halongo said.
The repatriation of such cultural items even after years away is backed by the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
According to Halongo, people who have been at the exhibition booth have left wowed by the details in the histories of these artifacts.
“This staff belongs to a former Buganda Prime Minister born in the 1800s, for people attached to their culture and tradition, encountering a piece that links them back to their roots is a priceless moment,” he said.
Asked why these artifacts weren’t exhibited at the recently celebrated International Museum Day held in Kabale District, Halongo noted that the nature and age of the items makes them delicate and transportation by road for long distances is dreaded over their safety.
“These are really delicate items and we try to preserve their detail as much as we can. We couldn’t transport them to Kabale by road considering it’s a long way from here (Kampala) but with POATE being held a few kilometers from the museum, we decided to bring them out and exhibit for people to see, learn and appreciate,” he said.
Speaking to the press back in June 2024 at Entebbe Airport as the artifacts returned home, the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka noted that after a successful round, negotiations will continue as Uganda endeavors to repatriate more of her heritage material lying in museums in Britain and across Europe.
The Minister spoke of the importance such items hold in the conservation and preservation of culture and heritage.
“We haven’t had these items for over 100 years. They were significant enough for colonialists to take them from Uganda to the UK. Their return is crucial not only for the ministry but also for the museums’ department. We will display and preserve them as part of our cultural heritage,” Mugarra said.
POATE 2025 has drawn in thousands of participants with about 300 exhibitors, 100 hosted buyers and media representatives.