Monuments in Uganda | National Landmarks & Heritage Sites
Monuments in Uganda: A monument is a statue, landmark, building or structure put up to commemorate a famous event or notable person.
Uganda is endowed with rich historical monuments one can explore. Most of monuments that are found in the capital city Kampala. Each of these monuments holds a historical symbol to it. One can explore these monuments while on foot or by road, whichever is more comfortable.
The monuments are aimed at changing the negative aspect in which Uganda is seen. They are the perfect place for one seeking to make memories and take breathtaking photography
Monuments in Uganda include the following
Independence monuments
The independence monument is located along Speke road in Kampala opposite standard chartered bank and it’s an important piece in Uganda’s heritage. This is a sculpture of a woman lifting a child in her arms and it commemorates the ay Uganda got her independence from Britain on October 3rd 1962
The stride – GHOGM monument
The stride – CHOGM monument is located behind the parliament gardens Kampala. The monument commemorates the commonwealth heads of government meeting held in Kampala, Uganda on 23rd – 25th November 2007
Muteesa II presidential monument
The Muteesa II presidential monument is located on Speke road around Nile Avenue near the independence monument. It commemorates Sir Edward Muteesa II the first president of the Independent Uganda.
Muzinga park monument
The Muzinga park monument is located on Entebbe Airport road below the state house, Entebbe. This monument comprises an anti – aircraft canon gun that symbolizes Uganda’s participation in the Second World War.
Sir Apollo Kaggwa Monument
The Sir Apollo Kaggwa monument is located along Kampala road in Kampala facing Amber house known as the statue of leadership. This monument was made to remember Apollo Kaggwa who is known for pioneering the use of electricity campaign when he was the prime minister of Buganda Kingdom known as Katiikiro. He also encouraged Ugandans to grow coffee as a cash crop and he provided his own land that they set up schools.
Centenary monument
The centenary monument is located at Centenary Park in Kampala along Jinja road neighboring Hotel Africana. This monument was built to commemorate the centenary of Kampala capital city authority for its existence and its contribution to social economic development of the city. This monument has a treadmill protected by shields which signifies progress and it also has a depiction on the 20,000 Uganda shillings note with information about the commemoration of the authority.
Pearson memorial site
The site is located about 17km from Biiso along Wanseko Road over looking Bugungu wildlife reserve. This is a site where Pearson, a famous European sport hunter, was killed by elephants.
War memorial monument
The war memorial monument is found in Kampala within the constitution square in the Kampala center. This monument was built to remind Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives during the first and second world wars. It is one of the oldest monuments in Uganda which was built at the peak of the World War II in the year 1945
World war memorial site
This site is located within Lira town next to the district headquarters and the district police headquarters. The site was established in memory of the Langi who died during the first world war of 1914 to 1918 and the second of 1939 to 1945 world wars.
The site is believed to have been built in the early 1960s by then it was Lango district currently maintained by lira district .
Kigungu landing site – the church monument
The church monument is located on the shores of Lake Victoria past Entebbe international airport in Wakiso district. The monument depicts Reverend Father Simon Lourdel and Brother Amans Mapeera who belonged to the white fathers group where they first landed which was 17th of February 1879. This place means a lot to the Ugandan Catholics and the pilgrimage is held every year on the 17th of February to celebrate the birth of Christianity. A beautiful church was built in front of the monuments and it also has some bird species, fish and butterflies.
Indriani monument
The indriani monument is a cross where it’s a spot where the Christian missionaries first settled in Madi region in 1912. This site is located 27 kilometers from Adjumani town and 19 kilometers from Pakelle trading center – Pabbo road
Izuku monument
The monument depicts the burial grounds for soldiers who died in Congo – Uganda war in 1964 due to unclear boarder demarcations after the death of Patrice Lumumba the former president of Zaire- Congo. This site is located 10 kilometers on the Arua customs road at about 50meters from the Uganda – Congo boarder.
Buhanika memorial war veterans
It is the place where war veterans from the area were buried as a result of the
NRM liberation war. In remembrance of their patriotism, a memorial was built in 1999. It is managed by the UPDF and covers about 2 acres.
This monument is located 6km from Hoima town along the Hoima-Masindi road in Buhanika village, Buhanika sub-county
Barlonyo memorial site
This is a place where the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels killed more than 300 Langi civilians who were living in a displaced people’s camp nearby. The site is located within Lira town next to the district headquarters and the district Police headquarters.
Buhimba heroes’ monument
The monument is located 11km from Hoima town on Kakumiro road in Buhimba village. The foundation stone was laid in 1987 in memory of the citizens who were murdered in cold blood and dumped at that point by the fascist forces that occupied the place in 1985. These forces were later attacked and repulsed by the NRA forces in October the same year
Emini pasha monument
The site is also a memorial at a point where Omukama Chwa Kabalega is believed to have received Dr. Emin Pasha in 1877. This site is also termed as Kabalega -Emin pasha monument because it’s located on the burial ground for all bunyoro kings and it started during the Omukama Kabalega’s reign. The tombs are located 2km along the Hoima-Masindi road.
The tombs of Cwa II Kabalega and Sir Tito Winyi IV are located at this site. It is also for the royal princes and the omugos (king’s wives). The late Omukama Andrea Duhaga and his wife were buried in Kinogozi Royal Tombs along with royal princesses in Buhimba sub-county, Hoima. The king reigned since 1869 until he was sent into exile by the British in 1899 and later returned to Uganda in 1923. Mparo was chosen as the capital of Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro Kingdom in 1872 and where he was interred in 1923 after his death at Jinja. The grave site includes many of the Kabelega’s personal effects in a dome-like thatched hut. Emin Pasha met the late King Chwa II Kabalega at Mparo and a monument was erected to that regard.
This site was rehabilitated on June 9, 2008 by the UPDF in honor of Omukama Kabalega in recognition of his struggle against Colonialism. Inside the traditional shelters of the tombs are also the regalia and important instruments used by the various former kings. The place is about an acre large and is currently maintained by Bunyoro Kingdom together with the UPDF in appreciation of the great work done by Omukama Kabalega to desist colonialism in Uganda.
Sir Gerald portal monument
This monument is located in fort portal where the name fort portal derives from his name that was in fort portal from 1854 to 1894. Sir Gerald portal was a British special commissioner who was sent in Uganda who was a general
These monuments can be visited throughout the year and can be accessed by road
