Humanist

Dear Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, it is your responsibility to actively engage in the “safe keeping of historic sites and monuments” of our country. Kidepo Safari Lodge is such a historic site.

Kidepo Safari Lodge – Photo Credit: Emmanuel Owaraga II on Instagram or on Facebook

First of all, Kidepo Safari Lodge is built atop the naturally occurring Katurum Rocks of Kidepo Valley National Park. Add to that the fact that it was built in 1971 by a master Danish architect – Hans Munk Hansen and as it was commissioned by President Idi Amin Dada Oumee.

Furthermore, the furniture and the art décor of Amin’s Kidepo Safari Lodge are rich with a fascinating history of the time period. President Amin was reportedly famously known to be an avid hunter of wildlife; and that he used Kidepo Safari Lodge to entertain dignitaries (hunting parties, presumably) and this can be deduced from the lodge’s furniture.

I wonder if the furniture of Amin’s Kidepo Safari Lodge was made out of ivory from the animals that President Amin himself shot?

Chairs of Amin’s Kidepo Safari Lodge – photo credit @ Ms Norah Owaraga

Whatever the case, there is no doubt that the furniture of Amin’s Kidepo Safari Lodge qualifies as artifacts – they are manmade and are of cultural and historical interest. And, therefore, they form part of our country’s antiquities. Why is it that these artifacts are not being preserved and are being allowed to rot and waste away?

By the way please, those whose moral sensitivities now find it unacceptable for wild animal parts to be used as such, know that in 1975, “elephant hunting in Uganda and Ivory sales were banned” by President Amin. Such history should be documented, preserved, and archived for posterity; for the learning and enjoyment of generations to come.

Now, if Kidepo Safari Lodge is not a historic site, I need to ask: How does the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities determine historic sites?

Featured photo is of Amin’s Kidepo Safari Lodge Chair @ Ms. Norah Owaraga