President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Monday received culturally significant artifacts from Cambridge University, saying it marks a profound moment in his country’s history.
39 traditional artifacts including potteries, jars and local regalias, taken from Uganda during the colonial era were returned last week for a three-year period which may be extended.
Museveni described the artifacts as a poignant reminder of the country’s rich cultural heritage that has long resided abroad.
Uganda’s ministry of tourism, wildlife and antiquities issued a statement on Tuesday the invaluable pieces were eagerly anticipated since negotiations for their return began in 2019.
”These artifacts, taken by British colonial administrators, missionaries, anthropologists, and soldiers during the 1890s and early 1900s, hold immense historical importance for Uganda and its people” it said.
The repatriation of these artifacts sets a precedent for future returns of historical objects acquired during colonial rule, as Uganda joins other African nations in reclaiming its cultural legacy, according to the ministry.
The endeavour is part of a broader effort to secure the cultural rights of Ugandans sustainably and preserve the country’s heritage for generations to come.
The process of repatriating the artifacts began under the ‘Rethinking Uganda Museum’ project in 2016, supported by the University of Michigan and funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Through collaborative efforts, two Ugandan curators were invited to select the artifacts to be repatriated in November 2022, a pivotal moment in the journey to bring these cultural treasures back to Uganda.
Having been housed at the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for over a century, these artifacts represent a tangible link to Uganda’s past, awaiting their rightful place within the country’s cultural landscape. Their return underscores a commitment to acknowledging and honouring Uganda’s history while paving the way for a brighter cultural future, said the ministry.
”As Uganda welcomes back these artifacts with open arms, the nation embraces a renewed sense of pride in its heritage and looks forward to the positive impact this return will have on cultural preservation and historical remembrance” it concluded.
WN/as/APA