After watching a commentary on Uganda's 62nd Independence Day, I invited Prof. Ndebesa and others from Makerere's History department to discuss African history. He stated, “There was no Uganda until the British created it,” which sparked a debate. Examining our diverse peoples—the Bantu, Nilotics, the Nilo-Hamitic, and so on—suggests that Uganda's political control existed before British rule. Evidence from oral history, archaeology (like the Bigo bya Mugenyi site), and cultural links indicate organized governance efforts by groups like the Abatembuuzi and Bachwezi. While the British divided these entities, attributing Uganda's existence solely to them ignores historical complexities.
This discourse highlights the need for a revised approach to our post-colonial education and historical narratives. I thank the professors, many of whom are now retired, for their service to the country, their insights, and their wonderful ideas about nationalism through academia.
