Cambridge University returns stolen Ugandan artefacts

Cambridge University has returned an assortment of cultural artefacts to Uganda. These were received by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities on Saturday, 8th June 2024.

The 39 artefacts had been housed at the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for more than 100 years. They were taken from Uganda during the height of colonialism in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

During this period, the British, who were Uganda’s colonial masters, leveraged their administrators, anthropologists, and missionaries to get hold of the valuable artefacts.

Many of these artefacts were acquired by the missionary anthropologist John Roscoe, who was closely tied to Cambridge. These artefacts were picked from all regions of the country, from Central, East, and across to the West and North.

However, the 39 artefacts returned were taken from Buganda, Bunyoro, Lango, and Ankore communities.

Among the returned artefacts is a collection of “balongo,” sacred figures with ritual significance in Buganda culture. These and the other artefacts will be kept at the Uganda Museum as they acclimatise to Ugandan conditions.

Once the acclimatisation process is done, the artefacts will be returned to their respective regions. Ugandan Exclusive can confirm that Buganda Kingdom is prepared to welcome the “balongo” at their original tombs, Wamala.

Uganda Government Excited

The State Minister of Tourism, Martin Mugarra, commended Cambridge University for keeping the artefacts in good condition and accepting to return them. Hon. Mugarra says that these returned artefacts will go a long way in boosting the tourism sector in Uganda. This is because they are a product that has been missing.

“The ministry will continue to analyse the artefacts at the Uganda Museum and is expecting all Ugandans and foreign visitors to see the historical objects returned from Europe,” said Hon. Martin Mugarra.

“We are grateful as a Ministry for the funding support extended from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, which facilitated the research and transportation of the important artefacts back to the communities. It took us over $100,000 to repatriate these artefacts,” said Jackline Besigye Nyiracyiza, the acting commissioner of museums and monuments at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities.

Challenges Faced

Derrick Peterson, professor of museum and anthropology at Michigan University, acknowledged the importance of returning the artefacts but also noted a few challenges.

“This is a risky project, and there’s a lot at stake,” said Peterson. “The Cambridge curators are giving up part of the collection they have built. The Ugandan curators are trying to find a different framework with which to display ethnographic objects. I’m very pleased to be able to work with both institutions in making new kinds of museums actionable.” – Professor Peterson at the launch of the project in 2021.