John Ssempebwa, the proprietor of Ssemagulu Royal museum and former CEO of Uganda Tourism Board, petitioned court in September 2024 to prevail over Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) regarding hurtful names on many of the latter’s streets and roads.
In a ruling made on February 28, 2025, Justice Musa Ssekaana of the High court concurred with the petitioner that many roads, streets and other public places need to be renamed, away from British colonial officials and the monarchy.
He counselled KCCA to take administrative, legislative and other measures to initiate, guide and ease the process of restoring or bringing up “appropriate names that promote community harmony, unity or which exemplify the culture, heritage and values of the people of Uganda”.
Ssempebwa had complained against having hurtful names of crude and brutal empire builders such as Henry Colville, Harry Johnston, Frederick Lugard and Col Trever Ternan being splashed in our faces and memories.
Such people were responsible for our subjugation, humiliation and exploitation, even involving massacres in some instances. Ssempebwa argued that these names distort our history, cultural identity and self-confidence, and perpetuate our neocolonialism, on top of undermining our sense of independence and our right to self-determination.
The names glorify our oppressors while denigrating our leaders and patriots. So, Justice Ssekaana advised that KCCA initiates a consultative process with the general public so as to arrive at a smooth renaming exercise without further controversies.
Ssempebwa told The Observer that this advice is a partial win because he had prayed for a court order.
“This counsel is a partial win, and it has no timeline; however, we will put up a lot of pressure since we have some people in KCCA who are our allies. KCCA has guidelines on renaming streets and we hope they will utilise them.
What KCCA was not aware of is that many of the colonial names traumatize our people. KCCA and the communities should stay clear of names of politicians and soldiers; you know how Amin named things after himself, or Apollo [Milton Obote] hotel, only to be changed when they are no longer in power. Otherwise, there is a long list of worthy Ugandan names that we can give them once the process starts’” Ssempebwa said.
IDI AMIN’S 1972 BOLD ATTEMPT
In December 1972, President Idi Amin made a proclamation leading to the renaming of some lakes, national parks, mountains and roads in Kampala and other district towns from colonial names.
This was part of his ‘economic war’ campaign and decolonization of Uganda programme. For example, the national parks Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls became Rwenzori and Kabalega respectively. Unfortunately, following his overthrow in 1979, some of the colonial names were reinstated!
It is all about Pan-African hot air. This is a Ganda African man who knows very well who have turned the aggressors of human rights against the African people of this continent. He seems to be saying that such an African leader who has monopolised state power for 40 years and counting must not have any street named after him! Or for that matter, such a very nice African leader(African liberator or Messiah) not to have his picture profile embedded on Uganda paper and coin currencies for 100 years? Most probable if tomorrow this corrupt parliament wakes up and tables a motion so that the Luganda vernacular language can become the official language of Uganda, one believes Mr Ssembebwa would be the happiest Ganda man ever lived on planet earth. Carry on with your endeavour, patriotic Pan-African man!
Uganda problem is not colonial names, but ownership of Uganda by Rwandese Museveni!
The British could not colonise Uganda because of the Catholic Church, reason the British made Uganda their Protectorate & independence came through peaceful negotiations in Kampala & London, but not through armed wars as elsewhere!
Ugandans didn’t understand they should put in place real governance to ensure their independence from Britain, reason then Sudan & S.Sudan colonised Uganda & made it their land!
When Sudan/S. Sudan wanted to won part of Kenay & Tanzania, Tanzanian army made sure they are stopped & mainly Acholi joined the war to get rid of them!
But Ugandans again forgote to ensure their ownership of the zone formed by their tribal lands, reason Rwandese Museveni was brought in by all the other tribes who UNITED against T. Okello/Acholi!
Museveni put in the tribalistic system because he knew it was the only means for him to own Uganda as only Ugandans, in UNUTY, will have the power to stop him!
What will dropping abhorrent colonial names change how Uganda is ruled & give Ugandans the good living they want?
Ugandans wanted to be Independent from being British Protectorate & got their freedom through peacefull negotiations at a time when all colonised lands were at armed wars!
Rwandese Museveni has made Ugandans POWERLESS slaves through the inhuman tribalistic system, but Ugandans go along ensuring they remain his enslaves officially, legally, constitutionally!
Museveni doesn’t need the tribalistic system & tribal leaders in posts any more & can dissolve it & just own Uganda, as a real man now!
Museveni controls every institution, owns tax money, doesn’t need fake elections any more!
Do subjects/Ugandans pay taxes to tribal leaders who then ensure they are served with Public/Social Services?
The argument on dropping colonial names is broader and should include religious leaders who force their followers to carry an Arab or White man’s name in the name of religion. For instance, a new convert to Islam is usually given an Arabic name disguised as an Islamic name such as Rajab, Rashid, Malik etc. Among the Christians, you cannot be baptized or referred to as a Christian without a white man’s sir or clan name like George, Robert, Irene etc disguised as a Christian name. This colonial mentality must be dealt with decisively so that we are largely African in so many ways despite or different religions.
I would rather travel on safe well tarmacked roads, modern hospitals well stocked with medicine and enough medical staff, up to standard schools, uncorrupt civil service, real Parliament representing the people who elected them and real democracy where all citizens enjoy their rights and where there is rule of law rather waste time on things like names. Change them, is it going to change the misery we are going through at the moment. There are more pressing issues at hand.
You want an overhaul, then change the first colonial names in fact everything connected to the colonial times. Do not make changes selectively, those you prefer to keep and those you find abhorring. I hope those you rename the roads after will not be dictators, corrupt ones or criminals but those who have contributed greatly to the country and who everybody would love to remember
Kenya and Tanzanian key roads are named after Milton Obote. Even in Zambia and other central African countries that name is used for important roads and avenues.
Why is it that those countries know more about his legacy than Ugandans. Nyerere, Kenyatta, Kaunda Mandela, Kabalega should be common names on our roads. Removing Obotes name, aman who fought for independence of UG and championed liberation of South Africa in key conferences was ignorance in action.
If we are really serious about decolonising ourselves, let us start with our mind; next, lets us stop using the English language altogether; and crucially, let us de-Ugandanise ourselves because ‘Uganda’ is a colonial creation, an artifact imperial colonial power; let us go back to our small nations, namely, let Buganda remain Buganda, Ankole as Ankole, Bunyoro as Bunyoro etc.
When I hear all these hullaballoo about changing colonial names etc. because they they remind of colonial terrorism and subjugation and yet hold tight to great symbol of our subjugation – Uganda – I feel sorry for ourselves because we are treating symptoms of our problems!