Uganda is right to decolonise its historical and cultural landscape | Letter

By renaming streets and removing monuments in Kampala, it is shifting from imposed colonial commemorations to its own heritage, says Dina AhmedThe recent Ugandan court ruling to remove British colonial monuments and rename streets in the capital, Kampala, is a significant act of decolonial resistance, challenging the lingering presence of imperialist histories in public spaces (Campaigners celebrate court ruling to ‘decolonise’ Kampala, 4 March). It is great to see this positive outcome from the five-year campaign. The court ruling combats the persistence of colonial power structures in knowledge, culture and governance. I believe that decolonisation must extend beyond political independence to reshape how societies remember and represent their histories.I disagree with the critique by Nicholas Opiyo, who says these colonial monuments should remain and serve as “a constant reminder of our past”. The problem with erasure is that it washes over past injustices and, in this light, I can see his desire for colonial history to remain visible. While this perspective acknowledges the importance of historical memory, it risks maintaining colonial power structures under the guise of passive remembrance. Continue reading...