President Yoweri Museveni has commended the curators of Uganda Museum for unearthing and preserving Uganda’s heritage for the current and future generations.
“I want to congratulate all of you for taking on that assignment because if you had not taken on this responsibility, we could have lost a lot of information “, he noted.
The President was on Wednesday evening speaking as the chief guest at the opening of Uganda History Exhibition that took place at the Uganda Museum in Kampala.
The Exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of Uganda’s Independence Celebrations. It celebrates the excitement, optimism and promise of 9th October 1962 while acknowledging that for many Ugandans, independence was a partial victory and a political triumph that left many injustices undressed.
The President thanked the panelists who gave testimonies on their recollections about the attainment of 1962 independence. The panelists included Mrs. Joyce Mpanga, Mrs. Miria Kalule Obote, Dr. Martin Aliker, and Bishop Emeritus, Ochola.
Commenting on the recollections by the panelists, President Museveni highlighted many challenges faced by the people of Uganda at that time.
“You have just heard from the panelists that they were in exile and the professionals were working outside the country, people had no shoes and there were no schools in the whole of Northern Uganda. These reflections are important for the young people especially “, he said.
He faulted the traditional leaders for emphasising the separateness instead of commonalities that would have united the people of Uganda.
Mr. Museveni who was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Natasha Karugire was guided on a tour of different displays in the Uganda Museum, drawn from remarkable photographic archive of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Makerere University Library and from archival records held in Britain and Uganda.
The Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities; Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime noted that the history exhibition has come at a time when his Ministry is planning to refurbish the Museum as part of the sector strategy of developing the Museum to International standards.
The Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry; Doreen Katusime, welcomed the President to the Museum adding that he is the first sitting present to visit the Museum since 1962.
Katusime told the President that the government needs to invest adequate resources in the tourism sector for Ugandans to easily benefit from their diverse heritage and sites and to sustainably manage the country’s cultural heritage for economic development.
The function was attended by the former Prime Minister; Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Ministers, representatives of diplomatic missions and private sector representatives, among others.
