If there are any other things that Ugandans do worse than preparing for Chogm [Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting], then trying to revamp its old buildings must be one of them. One just has to take a look at the shoddy attempts that have been made to give some of the most distinct buildings in Kampala a new lease of life (or, in some cases, just a new coat of paint) to see the extent of the problem.
Take the example of the former Uganda Commercial Bank building, now called Cham Towers, which proudly stands side by side with Uganda House on Jinja Road. One of Kampala’s most distinctive buildings until recently, the ex-UCB HQ’s unique architectural design and imposing size set it apart; effectively making its one side of the face of good old Kampala.
However, since businessman Karim Hirji bought the imposing building and changed its name to Cham Towers, it has lost most of its old charm.
What Karim did when he decided to place tiles around the building was to inadvertently cover the beauty that the coarse texture of its walls exhibited; his action was tantamount to pouring acid on a beautiful face.
Now, why Karim decided to cover up the buildings unique wall with some funny tiles is beyond comprehension. Wouldn’t it have been better to maintain the original outlook of the structure rather than mess up its distinct wall with some lousy tiles?
Karim, it must be said, is not alone. A similar misdemeanour has been committed by the management of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) who – instead of retaining but only polishing the original design of the building housing the national broadcaster – has decided to cover it up with tiles.
Even more shameful is the fact that none of the ‘artists’ at the National Theatre, just a street away from the Parliament Building, saw it important to ensure that the guys renovating the building didn’t interfere with its unique design.
In the case of the National Theatre, the consolation is that an attempt has at least been made to ensure that the building retained a semblance of its distinct old self. The story is even worse at the building housing the Prime Minister’s office, opposite Golf Course Hotel, whose beauty has been drowned in some rather lousy yellowish paint – and even the painting was not done that well.
Such buildings have in effect been defaced, in the process throwing its authenticity out of the window. And it is quite a shame that not a great deal of Ugandans are even crying out to save the structures that give their country a distinct face.
Sometimes, it seems the urge to destroy what already exists has become a sort of national obsessions. We are only too eager to tear down our national forests in order to produce a few additional kilogrammes of sugar; and we freely give away prime land in the city to ‘investors’ even at the expense of national monuments.
Yet we could only gain more by maintaining some of these things in their original condition, like other countries do. For instance, in Turkey which I visited recently, the ancient architecture that was put up by the leaders of the Ottoman Empire (remember your High School history lessons?) ages ago is still protected very jealously and maintained. That country has, as a result, been able to earn billions of Turkish Lira from tourists streaming into that country every other year.
Ugandans and their leaders never give such things a thought. But if we continue defacing our own country at that rate, what aspects of dear Uganda will mark it out from the herd some 20 or so years from now?
Take the example of the former Uganda Commercial Bank building, now called Cham Towers, which proudly stands side by side with Uganda House on Jinja Road. One of Kampala’s most distinctive buildings until recently, the ex-UCB HQ’s unique architectural design and imposing size set it apart; effectively making its one side of the face of good old Kampala.
However, since businessman Karim Hirji bought the imposing building and changed its name to Cham Towers, it has lost most of its old charm.
What Karim did when he decided to place tiles around the building was to inadvertently cover the beauty that the coarse texture of its walls exhibited; his action was tantamount to pouring acid on a beautiful face.
Now, why Karim decided to cover up the buildings unique wall with some funny tiles is beyond comprehension. Wouldn’t it have been better to maintain the original outlook of the structure rather than mess up its distinct wall with some lousy tiles?
Karim, it must be said, is not alone. A similar misdemeanour has been committed by the management of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) who – instead of retaining but only polishing the original design of the building housing the national broadcaster – has decided to cover it up with tiles.
Even more shameful is the fact that none of the ‘artists’ at the National Theatre, just a street away from the Parliament Building, saw it important to ensure that the guys renovating the building didn’t interfere with its unique design.
In the case of the National Theatre, the consolation is that an attempt has at least been made to ensure that the building retained a semblance of its distinct old self. The story is even worse at the building housing the Prime Minister’s office, opposite Golf Course Hotel, whose beauty has been drowned in some rather lousy yellowish paint – and even the painting was not done that well.
Such buildings have in effect been defaced, in the process throwing its authenticity out of the window. And it is quite a shame that not a great deal of Ugandans are even crying out to save the structures that give their country a distinct face.
Sometimes, it seems the urge to destroy what already exists has become a sort of national obsessions. We are only too eager to tear down our national forests in order to produce a few additional kilogrammes of sugar; and we freely give away prime land in the city to ‘investors’ even at the expense of national monuments.
Yet we could only gain more by maintaining some of these things in their original condition, like other countries do. For instance, in Turkey which I visited recently, the ancient architecture that was put up by the leaders of the Ottoman Empire (remember your High School history lessons?) ages ago is still protected very jealously and maintained. That country has, as a result, been able to earn billions of Turkish Lira from tourists streaming into that country every other year.
Ugandans and their leaders never give such things a thought. But if we continue defacing our own country at that rate, what aspects of dear Uganda will mark it out from the herd some 20 or so years from now?
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