The royal artefact, believed to have been taken by British forces following the exile of Kabaka Mwanga in the late 19th century, was returned to Uganda following a series of negotiations that lasted two years.
The headdress, made of rare materials including human hair and adorned with intricate traditional symbols of Buganda’s monarchy, holds deep cultural and historical significance.
According to the available information at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, the headdress was worn by Kabaka Mwanga, who ruled Buganda between 1884 and 1897, during a time of increasing British influence and missionary activities in the region.
His resistance against British colonial expansion led to his eventual exile to the Seychelles in 1899, where he died in 1903. Mwanga and Umukama Kabalega were captured from a stone cave by the British army in Kangai Sub-county in Dokolo District in 1899.
The headdress, along with several other cultural artefacts, was taken by British authorities and ended up in museum collections at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
Jackline Nyiracyiza Besigye, commissioner for museums and monuments at the Tourism Ministry said the British Museum, which has held the headdress for more than a century, agreed to loan it to Uganda following years of negotiations with the university.
She said this is part of the ongoing efforts to reclaim cultural heritages and promote domestic tourism in Uganda.
Speaking at the Kangai historical site, now designated as the Kabalega and Mwanga Heritage Site, Besigye emphasised the importance of artefact documentation and digitisation.
“We are in the process of documenting and digitising over a million artefacts in our museums, many of which date back as early as 1900. Some of these were taken by missionaries and colonial authorities to weaken African traditions and monarchies,” says Besigye.
She explained that the repatriation of artifacts is part of a broader movement to decolonize historical narratives and ensure that Ugandans can reconnect with their heritage.
“It took us about two years to negotiate this return, with funding from the Mellon Foundation to facilitate transportation and preservation. We are continuously gathering historical context from local communities, which will strengthen our case for full restitution,” she said.
As part of Uganda’s broader cultural heritage initiative, Besigye said the government is working to establish more heritage centres across the country, including one in the Lango sub-region, to house and display returned artifacts.
“The engagement of local communities in this process is crucial. We are receiving invaluable insights that challenge colonial interpretations of these artifacts, strengthening our argument for their full return,” she said.
Kangai: The Site of Mwanga and Kabalega’s Arrest
Kangai in Dokolo District, now recognized as the Kabalega and Mwanga Heritage Site, holds deep historical significance as the location where Kabaka Mwanga and Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro were captured by the British in 1899 at Kangai in Dokolo District.
The two kings, known for their resistance against colonial rule, were eventually exiled, marking the fall of indigenous resistance to British domination in Uganda.