The Rt. Honourable Speaker,

Today over 4055 Petitioners invite you and the Parliament of Uganda to take administrative and legislative measures to end a legacy of colonial oppression and impunity manifest in certain street names, colonial symbols, icons and monuments in Uganda.

Evidence of this problematic history and legacy is visible in public spaces in a manner that honors some notorious individuals and entities such as Lord Fredrick Lugard, Henry Colvile Col. Trevor Ternan and The Kings African Rifles. As you know, today such symbols of oppression, slavery, racism and colonialism are being pulled down all over the world. 

The Petitioners consider that the prominence given to some undeserving individuals in Uganda’s Capital City and other towns is a continuing affront to their rights to dignity, equality and freedom from discrimination. They believe that the said symbols perpetuate hurt and community discord all based on a known history of military conquest, exploitation, authoritarianism and subjugation.

We invite the Parliament of Uganda, a body that has the power to make laws for peace, order, good governance and as the protector of the Constitution, to take urgent measures to audit  or review all such names, symbols and installations and to help discard the ones that are undesirable or detestable. Additionally, we invite it to make laws similar to the South African Geographical Names Council Act of 1998 to streamline the naming of streets and public places in a manner that addresses the legacy of colonialism and oppression; promotes  national heroes and heroines as well as contributes to national harmony, respect for and protection of human rights and dignity.

We count on your support and look forward to appropriate and swift action. We thank all those who have supported this Petition.

Apollo N. Makubuya.