Have you been to Mbale city recently? Have you noticed that Bank of Uganda Building (the currency center) was demolished and that some of the famous Green Spaces such as Uhuru Park and the Friends Triangle on Bishop Road that gave the city its beauty in the 1960’s are fast disappearing and being replaced by residential and business structures?
For a very long time, Uganda had just a single city – Kampala. With the effects of ‘modernity’ taking its toll on Kampala, it has had its iconic buildings demolished and replaced with ‘modern’ ones, whilst surviving ones are dwarfed by newly constructed storeyed buildings. This means a lost connection with our shared past, posing a risk of losing unique features that prevent our cities from becoming indistinguishable from each other.
Effective July 1, 2020, Mbale became one of the ten new cities in Uganda, and there is cause to worry; historic buildings will be under immense threat from developers rushing to take up prime space in the city.
In this light, the Cross -Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) is seeking your support to raise Twenty four million nine hundred and twenty seven Ugandan shillings (24,927,000/=), about Twelve thousand dollars ($7,000).
The campaign aims at: a) documentation and production of a map for historic buildings, monuments and sites in Mbale city, b) placement of plaques on at least 10 buildings and erect information boards on 4 sites, c) promotion of urban tourism, especially around built heritage, d) advocate for favourable policies, including the enactment of the Mbale Historic Buildings Ordinance, and e) undertake a short film competition for young people on historic buildings in Mbale.
By supporting this fundraising campaign, you will contribute to; the preservation of Mbale’s cultural identity and continuity in a fast-growing world for future generations; its past history and culture; and increase the city’s tourism potential, thereby widening its revenue sources.
CCFU through its programme, the Heritage Conservation Trust of Uganda, will use the documented information to create awareness about the importance of built heritage. It will also facilitate advocacy efforts towards the preservation and safeguarding of built heritage in Mbale.
Contributors of this campaign will benefit in the following ways;
Benefits: (a) a copy of the Mbale map, (b) listed on our website (c) a copy of CCFU’s recently published hard-backed book, ‟Beyond the Reeds and Bricks –Historical Sites and Buildings in Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe”, containing beautiful photographs and interesting facts about Uganda’s built history, (d) recognized on the plaque that will be placed on a site or building to remind people of its importance.
Benefits: (a) a copy of the Mbale map, (b) listed on our website (c) a copy of CCFU’s recently published hard-backed book, ‟Beyond the Reeds and Bricks –Historical Sites and Buildings in Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe”, containing beautiful photographs and interesting facts about Uganda’s built history.
Benefits: (a) copy of the Mbale map, (b) listed on our website
To contribute to the campaign, you can use:
CCFU shall regularly update you about the project and fundraising drive.
We shall be grateful for your contribution!