Block Old Kampala Mosque opening â€" conservationists
Aug 25, 2006
A section of conservationists has demanded that the October opening of the Old Kampala Mosque be stopped until the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) encroachment on land gazetted for a national monument, the Fort Lugard, is resolved.
By Alfred Wasike
A section of conservationists has demanded that the October opening of the Old Kampala Mosque be stopped until the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) encroachment on land gazetted for a national monument, the Fort Lugard, is resolved.
The Historic Buildings Conservation Trust (HBCT), a Ugandan organisation, are split in their petition to the Government demanding that the opening of the mosque funded by Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi, be stopped until the UMSC admits its “failure to observe the law and the agreed apportionment of the land†for the national monument.
Fort Lugard was Uganda’s first museum.
William Katatumba, who said he was the organisation’s chairperson, has circulated e-mails disassociating himself from a letter dated August 15, to the “Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities†written by Robert Baganda Tumwesigye, described in HBCT minutes of August 2 and 3, as the acting chairperson.
Katatumba wrote, “Dear All. I am not aware of the issues raised in this letter and I therefore wish to disassociate myself from it. Whereas this issue has at one time been discussed by the HBCT there was no decision to take this action.â€
On the HBCT elections slated for August 24 at the Uganda Museum announced by Baganda, Katatumba said he is the chairperson.
On the national monument land, the centre of the controversy, is a fort established by Sir Frederick Lugard, in 1890. Lugard raised the Union Jack, the British flag, there when Uganda was declared a British Protectorate. The existing building where he lived was built between 1908 and 1910 and was the seat of the British government for many years. The fortifications were destroyed during the Amin regime.
The wrangle began when President Idi Amin gave the 12 acres of land to UMSC on June 1, 1972 at UMSC’s inauguration.
The donation was implemented under Statutory Instrument no. 66 of 1972. Amin, however, warned UMSC against tampering with the spot where Lugard first raised the British flag because of its “national importanceâ€.
Under Statutory Instrument No.11 of 1999, the land was reduced to 10 acres. UMSC used the land leaving a piece measuring 50 by 40 metres for the fort. In May 2003, Libyan envoy Abduljuldain Abdallah clashed with MPs probing the allocation of the gazetted land to the UMSC after the tourism ministry had petitioned Parliament.
Libya handed over to President Museveni keys of the relocated and revamped Fort Lugard in December 2003. The fort, designated as an antiquity, was pulled down by Libyan contractors who built the 15,000-seater mosque.
State minister for antiquities Serapio Rukundo said, “We are looking into the conflict. The mosque is a very big boost to Uganda. It is a donation from our friends. We can solve it among ourselves.â€
UMSC spokesperson Ahmed Nsereko Mutumba said, “That issue is too high for me to comment on. Talk to our secretary general (Dr. Idris Kasenene).†Kasenene’s mobile phone was off by press time.
The HBCT letter said, “In order to put this transgression behind us, and for us to proceed in a peaceful and harmonious way for Uganda’s future as a law abiding nation, members of the HBCT demand that:
1. The UMSC admit their failure to observe the law and the agreed apportionment of the land.
2. The UMSC staff pay the appropriate monetary compensation to the Department of antiquities, National Monuments and Museums in your ministry to enable the department acquire an alternative site.â€
3. The mosque not to be opened before fulfiling the above requirement. where possible UMSC staff should face charges of illegality.
4. Fort Lugard house be used as a museum of national history.â€
HBCT said, “According to an August 14th, 1998 letter from President Yoweri Museveni to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Court (UMSC), 10 out of 12 acres that formed Fort Lugard around Old Kampala hill were allocated for the construction of a mosque. “The two acres were preserved as gazetted land where a flag spot would be based and within which Fort Lugard was to be relocated,†said the letter signed by Baganda to the tourism, wildlife and antiquities minister on Tuesday.
“While constructing the mosque, the UMSC staff overlooked the National Monument Statute and the President’s letter related to the apportionment of the land. They relocated Lugard House but changed its original structure by using other materials and yet it was supposed to be a replica of the original house,†HBCT complained.
It added, “Worse still, the UMSC used the two acres by building their own residential houses. This breached Uganda’s statute law for the conservation of National Monuments. Fort Lugard house was the first museum in Uganda and should be conserved as a national monument.â€
HBCT recalled that the commissioner for antiquities, national monuments and museums, Dr. Ephraim Kamuhangiire, raised the concern to the sessional committee of the 7th Parliament and the matter remained pending. It said on July 27, 2006, Soroti municipality MP Charles Ekemu tabled the matter to the committee on tourism.
The complaint was sent to the Speaker of Parliament, tourism state minister, commissioner antiquities, the parliamentary committee on tourism and Niwagaba & Mwebesa Advocates.
Lugard, who was born on January 22, 1858 and died in 1945, was a British soldier, African explorer and colonial administrator. In 1890 the Imperial British East African Company sent him to Uganda, where he secured British predominance.
He was the Military Administrator of Uganda from December 26, 1890 to May 1892. While administering Uganda he journeyed round Rwenzori mapping a large area of the country.
A section of conservationists has demanded that the October opening of the Old Kampala Mosque be stopped until the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) encroachment on land gazetted for a national monument, the Fort Lugard, is resolved.
The Historic Buildings Conservation Trust (HBCT), a Ugandan organisation, are split in their petition to the Government demanding that the opening of the mosque funded by Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi, be stopped until the UMSC admits its “failure to observe the law and the agreed apportionment of the land†for the national monument.
Fort Lugard was Uganda’s first museum.
William Katatumba, who said he was the organisation’s chairperson, has circulated e-mails disassociating himself from a letter dated August 15, to the “Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities†written by Robert Baganda Tumwesigye, described in HBCT minutes of August 2 and 3, as the acting chairperson.
Katatumba wrote, “Dear All. I am not aware of the issues raised in this letter and I therefore wish to disassociate myself from it. Whereas this issue has at one time been discussed by the HBCT there was no decision to take this action.â€
On the HBCT elections slated for August 24 at the Uganda Museum announced by Baganda, Katatumba said he is the chairperson.
On the national monument land, the centre of the controversy, is a fort established by Sir Frederick Lugard, in 1890. Lugard raised the Union Jack, the British flag, there when Uganda was declared a British Protectorate. The existing building where he lived was built between 1908 and 1910 and was the seat of the British government for many years. The fortifications were destroyed during the Amin regime.
The wrangle began when President Idi Amin gave the 12 acres of land to UMSC on June 1, 1972 at UMSC’s inauguration.
The donation was implemented under Statutory Instrument no. 66 of 1972. Amin, however, warned UMSC against tampering with the spot where Lugard first raised the British flag because of its “national importanceâ€.
Under Statutory Instrument No.11 of 1999, the land was reduced to 10 acres. UMSC used the land leaving a piece measuring 50 by 40 metres for the fort. In May 2003, Libyan envoy Abduljuldain Abdallah clashed with MPs probing the allocation of the gazetted land to the UMSC after the tourism ministry had petitioned Parliament.
Libya handed over to President Museveni keys of the relocated and revamped Fort Lugard in December 2003. The fort, designated as an antiquity, was pulled down by Libyan contractors who built the 15,000-seater mosque.
State minister for antiquities Serapio Rukundo said, “We are looking into the conflict. The mosque is a very big boost to Uganda. It is a donation from our friends. We can solve it among ourselves.â€
UMSC spokesperson Ahmed Nsereko Mutumba said, “That issue is too high for me to comment on. Talk to our secretary general (Dr. Idris Kasenene).†Kasenene’s mobile phone was off by press time.
The HBCT letter said, “In order to put this transgression behind us, and for us to proceed in a peaceful and harmonious way for Uganda’s future as a law abiding nation, members of the HBCT demand that:
1. The UMSC admit their failure to observe the law and the agreed apportionment of the land.
2. The UMSC staff pay the appropriate monetary compensation to the Department of antiquities, National Monuments and Museums in your ministry to enable the department acquire an alternative site.â€
3. The mosque not to be opened before fulfiling the above requirement. where possible UMSC staff should face charges of illegality.
4. Fort Lugard house be used as a museum of national history.â€
HBCT said, “According to an August 14th, 1998 letter from President Yoweri Museveni to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Court (UMSC), 10 out of 12 acres that formed Fort Lugard around Old Kampala hill were allocated for the construction of a mosque. “The two acres were preserved as gazetted land where a flag spot would be based and within which Fort Lugard was to be relocated,†said the letter signed by Baganda to the tourism, wildlife and antiquities minister on Tuesday.
“While constructing the mosque, the UMSC staff overlooked the National Monument Statute and the President’s letter related to the apportionment of the land. They relocated Lugard House but changed its original structure by using other materials and yet it was supposed to be a replica of the original house,†HBCT complained.
It added, “Worse still, the UMSC used the two acres by building their own residential houses. This breached Uganda’s statute law for the conservation of National Monuments. Fort Lugard house was the first museum in Uganda and should be conserved as a national monument.â€
HBCT recalled that the commissioner for antiquities, national monuments and museums, Dr. Ephraim Kamuhangiire, raised the concern to the sessional committee of the 7th Parliament and the matter remained pending. It said on July 27, 2006, Soroti municipality MP Charles Ekemu tabled the matter to the committee on tourism.
The complaint was sent to the Speaker of Parliament, tourism state minister, commissioner antiquities, the parliamentary committee on tourism and Niwagaba & Mwebesa Advocates.
Lugard, who was born on January 22, 1858 and died in 1945, was a British soldier, African explorer and colonial administrator. In 1890 the Imperial British East African Company sent him to Uganda, where he secured British predominance.
He was the Military Administrator of Uganda from December 26, 1890 to May 1892. While administering Uganda he journeyed round Rwenzori mapping a large area of the country.