Today over 2500 people have signed a petition to end colonial iconography and symbolism in Uganda. The Petitioners consider the prominence of colonial symbols, icons, personalities and monuments as an affront to their human rights and dignity. These symbols in public spaces invoke cultural and colonial oppression; promote cultural and racial supremacy as well as undermine our national esteem, identity and heritage.
 
Symbols of oppression, slavery, racism, discrimination and colonialism have no place in a free and democratic society. Indeed, in many places in the world including in London, Washington, Bristol and Antwerp such vestiges have been or are being pulled down.
 
The Petitioners urge the Government of Uganda to take urgent measures to review the appropriateness of all such icons and symbols and remove all those that are unsuitable [including Henry Colville, Frederick Lugard, Kings African Rifles and Ternan] and ensure that those which remain not only reflect the values of human rights, dignity, respect and freedom but promote deserving national heroes and heroines.
 
I thank all those who have joined and supported this petition as a part of a struggle towards African emancipation and decolonisation.
 
Apollo N. Makubuya.