President Museveni Calls for Deeper Exploration of African History Beyond Colonial Narratives

President Yoweri Museveni met with professors from Makerere University’s History Department on October 16, 2024, to discuss African history, focusing on pre-colonial governance structures and cultural heritage. The meeting at State House, Entebbe, was sparked by comments made by Prof. Ndebesa Mwambutsya during Uganda's 62nd Independence Day celebrations, which prompted the President to invite scholars for a broader conversation on Africa’s historical narrative.

"I was intrigued by Prof. Ndebesa’s remark that Uganda only existed because of the British," Museveni said. "This led me to initiate a discussion on the continent’s rich history, which predates colonial rule."

Museveni emphasized that before British colonization, various political structures existed, referencing the Abatembuuzi and Bachwezi dynasties, which governed regions like Ankole, Bunyoro, Tooro, and Buganda. "These were organized efforts at political control, long before the British came," he noted, adding that the Luo also influenced political governance after the Bachwezi.

Highlighting the linguistic and cultural connections among various Ugandan tribes, the President called for a broader understanding of Uganda's history. "It is a distortion to say Uganda started with the British," he argued. "There were organized political systems beyond clans and tribes, with significant efforts at governance."

Prof. Ndebesa acknowledged pre-colonial efforts to unite Africans, noting the overlap of political and religious leadership in these systems. "I agree, there were unification efforts before the British," he said, adding that state formation evolved over time.

During the discussion, Prof. Samwiri Lwanga Lunyiigo urged President Museveni to write a book on Uganda’s history, emphasizing the need for Africans to document their own stories. The President’s extensive knowledge of African history was praised by the professors in attendance.

The meeting was also attended by Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang.