Celebrating the First Anniversary of the Semei Kakungulu Museum

Next week marks a special milestone for the Semei Kakungulu Museum as it celebrates one year since its official opening on 28th November 2024, and 97 years since the passing of Semei Kakungulu on 24th November 1928.

The Museum was established following the restoration of the Semei Kakungulu Heritage Site by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), in partnership with the Semei Kakungulu Family Foundation, Mbale City Council, and the International National Trusts Organisation, with support from the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund. The site’s main structures, particularly the main house and the mausoleum, had suffered significant climate-related damage, including leaks, peeling walls, and deterioration caused by increased temperatures and running water.

Restoration works were carried out using materials similar to the original ones to maintain the historical integrity of the building. The main house has since been transformed into a museum showcasing the life, leadership, and legacy of Semei Kakungulu, especially his contributions to greening Uganda, as well as to agriculture, education, religion, culture, and the country’s economic development.

Since its opening, the Museum has received over 2,000 visitors, including school groups, foreign tourists, and community members eager to learn about Kakungulu’s history and heritage. The project has also created jobs for local community members, including four full-time staff and others engaged in restoration, construction, and landscaping work.

Infrastructure and other developments around the site have seen improvements:

• The access road to the Museum was graded, though a more permanent solution is still needed.
• Electrification in the area has improved, enabling some neighbouring households to connect to power through the site.
• A water drilling initiative has brought water closer to the community.
• Twenty local women from Nabugoye Women’s Craft Association have been trained in arts and crafts to improve the quality of their products, which will be supplied to the Museum Souvenir Shop.
• The Museum also hosted an open day to engage the broader community on conservation and heritage education.
• With support from Mountain Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE), trees have been planted at the site, including the establishment of a flower garden

To celebrate these achievements, the Museum and its partners have organised a series of activities leading up to the anniversary celebration on Thursday, 27th November 2025. The commemoration will honour Semei Kakungulu’s impactful life, his legacy of environmental stewardship, and his contributions to Uganda’s development, while also raising awareness about climate change and the role of heritage in environmental protection.

Activities for the Commemoration Week include:

• Tuesday, 25th November: Free public access to the Museum and a tree-planting exercise on Gangama Hill to support re-greening efforts.
• Wednesday, 26th November: A city clean-up in partnership with local schools, followed by an evening campfire featuring storytelling, poetry, and acoustic performances starting at 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, 27th November: Official ceremony to commemorate the Museum’s first anniversary and mark 97 years of Semei Kakungulu’s environmental legacy.

The Museum invites the general public to take part in all activities throughout the week and join in celebrating this important piece of Uganda’s heritage. We also welcome partners and well-wishers interested in supporting or sponsoring any of the planned activities to reach out and be part of this growing legacy.

About CCFU and our Built and Natural Heritage Safeguarding Work

Since its establishment in 2006, the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda has championed the safeguarding of Uganda’s cultural heritage as a pillar of human development and national identity. Through the Cultural Heritage Safeguarding and Promotion Programme, CCFU has documented, restored, and promoted historic properties across the country, including in Kampala, Jinja, Entebbe, Soroti, Mbarara, Fort Portal, and Mbale.

In recent years, CCFU has strengthened the connection between heritage and climate action. Key initiatives include documenting more than 60 heritage sites at risk of climate change in the Rwenzori and Alur regions, and restoring major sites such as the Semei Kakungulu Heritage Site and the Jinja Railway Station, now home to the Uganda Railway and Semei Kakungulu Museums. These efforts demonstrate the vital role of cultural heritage in nation-building, environmental sustainability, and community resilience.

For further information, please contact our Communications desk via email at ccfu@crossculturalfoundation.or.ug, tel: 0393294675/0780647616, or visit www.crossculturalfoundation.or.ug to learn more.