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EU, Uganda develop app for historical buildings
Ebenezer House, whose construction started in 1933 and completed in 1937, is one of the historical buildings in Kampala. FILE PHOTO
Kampala- In commemoration of the African World Heritage Day (May 5), the European Union (EU), with Ugandan partners, have launched a photographic book, three annotated maps and a mobile app with content meant to protect the posterity of historical buildings and sites in the three cities of Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe.
The three products are the result of a year-long collaboration between the EU, the Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to mark the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018.
The products were launched at the EU Delegation to Uganda offices in Kampala on May 6. They include annotated maps of historical buildings and sites for each of the three cities; an executive gift book titled Beyond the Reeds and Bricks: Historical Sites and Buildings in Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe, and a mobile app, Uganda’s Built Heritage.
The products will enable people of all walks of life to access crucial information about Uganda’s architectural heritage, which is currently under threat.
The collaboration identified historical buildings and sites as an important point of common heritage between Uganda and Europe, providing an avenue to share experiences in documentation, protection, rehabilitation and economic opportunities in protection of cultural heritage.
The glossy book bears witness to the richness of Uganda’s historical buildings and sites (some hidden, some prominent) surrounding Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe.
Divided into eight chapters, the book combines photographs of more than 60 notable historical locations, accompanied by a narrative which sets the locations in their historical, social and political contexts and highlights why they still matter today.
The annotated maps detail the historical buildings and sites for each of the three cities. These high-quality maps have been produced to help tourists and members of the public understand and appreciate the history surrounding them. Containing photos of notable historical sites, interesting facts, and a clear annotated street plan, the maps also include an overview of the towns and their history.
PDF versions of the maps will also be available for download free of charge from the website of the CCFU website (www.crossculturalfoundation.or.ug).
The mobile app (available on both android and iPhone), digitalises the content for easy access for every smart phone user. The content features at least 60 buildings in the project, representing Uganda’s architectural history, covering the pre-colonial era and post-independence Uganda.
