Independence Monument (Uganda)
The Independence Monument, also known as the Uganda Independence Monument is a sculpture which symbolizes the independence of Uganda from British colonialism on 9 October 1962. It is 29 feet tall concrete sculpture located in the center of Kampala City in the King George V Jubilee gardens at Nile Avenue between Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Grand Imperial Hotel to the right, and Standard Chartered bank to the left in Uganda. This monument replaces the King George V of Britain statue which used to occupy the area.
Background
The Independence Monument was uncovered on 8 October 1962, a day prior to the day of independence of Uganda from the United Kingdom in 9 October 1962. It was unveiled by Kalule Settaala who was the minister for culture and community development of that times and other officials.The monument was carved by Gregory Maloba, a Kenyan sculptor, former student and an art lecturer at Makerere University's Margaret Trowel of Industrial and Fine art from 1939-1965. The construction of the monument was financed by the British colonial government.
Gregory Maloba was born in 1922 and died in 2007 at his home in Kenya after he had fled Uganda in late 1960s when the country degenerated into chaos. While in Kenya, he lectured at University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University.