Kigozi, the man behind Namugongo sculptures

By Mathias Mazinga

On Saturday November 28, at 8:00 am, Pope Francis will visit Namugongo Anglican Martyrs’ Shrine. It is the place where most martyrs were burnt on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda, in 1886.

Some of the things expected to marvel the pope are the crafted images of the holocaust, which have been installed in the museum that is currently under construction. The sculptures an effective description of the events around the martyrdom.


Kigozi, the sculptor of the images at Namugongo

The sculpture of Mukajanga, the chief executioner, is one of the fascinating images. It depicts with utmost effect the dreadful nature and overwhelming power that Mukajanga wielded, his obsession with booze and witchcraft. This is also depicted by the calabashes and animal skulls in his sculpture command post.

Equally captivating is the image of the martyrs on the pyre, as the fire consumes them. The sculptors also show Mukajanga’s guards dismembering the new converts.

Against this is the representation of the deep faith, courage and bravery of the martyrs who braved the clobbering, dismembering and insults by the guards. The image of the fire consuming them as they sang for Jesus, encouraged each other and prayed for their executioners, is very impressive.

The sculptor

The hands behind the holocaust images at Namugongo belong to Fred Kigozi. Kigozi is a 33-year old sculptor and proprietor of Global Youth Artists, an artisan company based at Seeta, on the Kampala-Jinja highway. He says he made his captivating sculptors from cement, clay, fiber-glass, hardener (liquid), binder, plaster and metal.

Interestingly, Kigozi did not go to school to get training in art. He is just uniquely talented as he explained: “Those who see my works think I have a degree in art, but it is just talent. Michelangelo, who is believed to be the most talented creative artist never went to school. I started making sculptures when I was a child. In fact, when I was in P3, my teacher would request me to teach the students and also mark their homework on his behalf.”

But Kigozi got an opportunity to study at Michelangelo School of Creative Arts at Kisubi and dropped out after the first year, because of lack of fees.

“I then teamed up with a few friends and set up a workshop in Entebbe. In 2011, we moved to Seeta, where we are currently stationed,” he said. “Students from reputable institutions like Kyambogo and Uganda Christian University, Mukono (UCU) come to my workshop to do internship!”

Kigozi says he has not yet made a big fortune from his trade.

“People who admire our artworks are generally poor. So, they buy them cheaply. We get some good money, only when we get orders from institutions like hotels. Some other people think art and crafts are a luxury. But I am sure we shall start to earn big in the near future. Previously, art was the cheapest course at UCU. But today, it is ranked alongside courses like law in school fees.”


Kigozi designed Nantawetwa

Kigozi’s achievements

It is Kigozi who crafted the famous Ganda long-drum (engalabi) roundabout on Kabaka Anjagala Road, in Rubaga. The engalabi-shaped monument of the 60th birthday of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi is at the junction of Rubaga Road and Kabakanjagala Road, in Mengo.

“There’s a company which had been contacted to do the work, but their proposed design was found to be devoid of art. They also could not beat the one-month deadline. Then someone recommended us to Jennifer Musisi, the executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority. Sasa Architects and designers set the base of the monument in concrete and handed over to us to do the sculptural work,” he said.

The Namugongo deal

Kigozi said his deal for the sculptures at Namugongo was on the basis of his friendship with the Anglican Archbishop Emeritus, Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo.

“I knew Nkoyooyo. I had done sculptures for him. He was not comfortable with the sculptures at the shrine. He said they did not effectively represent the holocaust. For example, Mukajanga was a stern, cruel, ruthless, imposing executioner, but his sculpture depicted him as a sickly, weak man,” Kigozi said.

He added that when Nkoyooyo narrated to him the story of the Uganda Martyrs, he drew sketches, with which he later developed these images.

“I admire Nkoyooyo, which is why I decided to work for him, without being very mindful of money. I must tell you he has struggled with the museum project. First of all, many of his colleagues were not supportive of the idea of the museum and when he started the fundraising campaign, the money was not flowing in well. Sometimes, he has had to inject in his personal money. The Archbishop is also artistic. The entire design of the museum is his imagination.”

Factfile

Fred Kigozi was born at Ntooke, near Kayunga, in 1985 to Rose Najjemba, a business woman and Tom Ssekimuli, a lorry driver.

After completing S6 at Ndeeba SSS in 2007, he enrolled at Michelangelo School of Creative Arts, Kisubi, where he spent a year studying Art and Design, Crafts, Ceramics and Sculpture.

In 2013, he dropped out of school for lack of fees and started a creative arts company, Global Youth Artists.

Kigozi currently employs about six young men.