Dear all,
The Uganda Museum, the oldest in East Africa, is threatened with
destruction on March 15th 2011 if we do not take action now! A group of
developers are seeking to destroy the Museum to make way for a tall
trade tower. Their proposal to provide two floors in the new office
block is a complete travesty as it makes no provision for the loss of
space, the environmental needs of the collection and accelerated
disintegration of the whole collection. In the current climate where the
desires of powerful business are in league with influential politicians
the Museum staff are frightened to raise their voices in protest. They
have brought the urgency of the matter to Prof. Merrick Posnansky the
former Curator of the Uganda Museum and now Professor Emeritus at UCLA.
As he says in his letter to President Museveni below:
The Museum is ideally situated, not too far from the City centre and
relatively near that other cultural icon of Uganda, Makerere College.
The building is a distinctive one that was hailed by the UNESCO journal
on museums in Africa in 1962 as one of the best-conceived museum
buildings in Africa. With its brise soleil walls it is ideally suited to
the climatic conditions of Uganda. It has space for a folk museum
consisting of buildings that represent the traditional structures of
Uganda and its outdoor space is well suited for the performance arts
that are so important for Uganda culture, such as the playing of the
amadinda and other musical instruments and for dances. The grounds also
encourage visits by families and schools who can have space within which
to relax. The curator's house, that was also an architectural gem in its
own right, was regrettably removed several years ago for the new Wild
Life building.
Removing a collection, uprooting a cultural centre is an operation that
requires considerable care and thought and should only be contemplated
if the future location has more space, the museum is planned for the
purpose involved with adequate space for storage, display, extension
services and educational development and is accessible for both school
children and tourists. Visitors and scholars have all appreciated both
the Museum and Uganda Society as treasures of Ugandan intellectual life
and a testimony to the love of Ugandan culture that is so important for
a nation state establishing itself in Africa.
If we lose the Uganda Museum we lose not just a world renowned building
and collection – but a very important part of World Heritage built up
over the last 100 years and which we will never see again. The
collection does need restoration and renovation but not destruction!
Join our campaign to save Uganda Museum. Spread this email throughout
your contacts and any influential media, advocacy, arts and heritage
bodies. Any ideas about how we can maximise the impact of this campaign
will be gratefully accepted.
Please send responses to:
1. Mr. Muyambi Ellady, Executive Director
(HRCI),Email:[log in to unmask]
2. Mr. Tumwesigye Robert Baganda,Director (HRCI),Email:[log in to unmask]
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