Page 14 - April - June 2023 Edition

As you drive east from Kampala, towards
Mabira Forest and Jinja, the crowded
trading centers transition into rolling
plantations and farms; a nice, natural
change in scenery. And then as you
approach yet another trading center
expecting more congestion and dust, you
instead discover delightful Lugazi! While the
buildings and trading-outlets are not really
any different than the others you have
passed, these roadsides have been
planted with trees, which are surrounded by
temporary fences of timber highlighting
their value, and a desire to protect them. Lugazi beautification efforts Outside the Afrikan Arts Kollective
One can only imagine how much cooler Photo courtesy of The Mehta Group
and even-more-delightful Lugazi will - Photo by Tambularts
become as these trees mature. The road then sends you around the central roundabout which
is impressively tended, and has a vibrant offering of plants and shrubs. This is all thanks to the
work of Lugazi Sugar of the Mehta Group. Public Art from Waste
A recent repeat-trip through lovely Lugazi got me wondering about other community
beautification projects in Uganda, and so I set out to find them. I have learned about many If you have recently passed by the equator on Masaka Road, you have likely seen
efforts ranging from presentations of public art, reuses of waste and contraband, and education “Courtship: Crested Cranes in scrap metal,” by Kandole Reagan—just a few steps north of
through art, to general clean-up co-ops. Here, I highlight just a few with hopes that these initiatives the monument-marker. Or if you have traveled between the Kibale National Forest entrance
will inspire all of us to brighten our own corners and communities. and Fort Portal, you have seen in a roundabout, the enormous “Elephant in the Room,” by the
same artist—also in scrap metal. These are just two examples of public art created from
Community-Wide Initiatives waste by Kandole and EcoAction, the CBO he founded. (EcoAction and Artist Kandole
The Bulago Island Club Residents Association (ali@oneminutesouth.com) is very active in its Reagan: @ecoactionuganda [f] “Courtship” was funded by the AidChild Equator Shop;
“Elephant in the Room” was funded by The Roofings Group.
corner of paradise. It funds and tends tree-lined paths to hilltop viewing points, and to tranquil
beaches—protecting them from encroachment, and preserving them for public use. Their Public Art as Education
property agreements require the use of hedges and natural vegetation instead of perimeter In Kyebando, around the Afrikan Arts Kollective, messaging through public art abounds,
walls; this alone maintains the island’s character, spirit, and sense of unity. Contraband like illegal
fishing-nets and -boats become hammocks and decorative displays instead of being sent to the worth a visit at this intersection of beautification and education (@afrikaartskolle [f]).
Similarly, in Entebbe, you’re likely to encounter at least one of the murals done by community
landfill. The club also maintains the collection and disposal of non-organic rubbish with
strategically positioned bins around the island for household generated garbage and the kids together with Tambularts’ volunteers. At the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education
Centre (UWEC), for example, their anti-poaching messaging showcases the beauty and
flotsam which comes up on the beaches daily. That non-organic rubbish is transported off the habitat of the rhino. In Kisalu, the community’s roadside walls at ViaVia Guesthouse have
island by public boat to Ggaba, once each month. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)
then transports the rubbish to landfill/incineration sites. been made beautiful through abstract art, while several NGO offices and places of business
have also been made brighter and happier by their murals. (Tambularts: @tambularts [i].)
If you know of other community beautification efforts, or if you would like to learn from these
best practices, feel free to reach out to me @nathaniel.dunigan (f). We love our world’s
natural beauty. Let’s all do our part to contribute to it, protect it, and celebrate it!

Bulago Island illegal fishing boats become Boat Bulago Island maintained paths
Bar at One Minute South - Alison Porteous Photo courtesy of Alison Porteous Elephant in the room - Kandole Reagan At UWEC Entebbe - Tambularts

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