Eight years on, Kamuli struggles to complete Shs25m monument

In Summary: Municipal officials blame funding constraints but say they are exploring partnerships with advertisers and private investors, while the 2026/27 budget is expected to provide another opportunity to complete the project.

Kamuli, Uganda — Eight years since construction began, a Shs25 million monument at the entrance to Kamuli Municipality remains incomplete, raising questions about the town’s efforts to develop a landmark that reflects its cultural heritage and growing urban identity.

Kamuli Municipality has invested in improving its road network, street lighting and paved walkways, while commercial activity continues to grow, particularly around Buwenge Mpya along Mission Road, where roadside markets and businesses remain active into the night.

However, the monument at the municipality’s entrance, designed to portray Kamuli’s history, culture and economic activities, remains unfinished, despite being envisioned as a landmark welcoming visitors to the hometown of the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

The project, estimated to have cost Shs25 million, was intended to showcase the municipality’s geographical features, agricultural activities and cultural identity. Its prolonged delay has left the structure without the finishing touches, including a planned water fountain.

Joseph Musoke, a retired Municipal Education Officer who designed the monument, explained that the three-dimensional structure incorporates different features representing the region’s heritage and economic life.

These include Lake Victoria and River Nile flowing towards cattle representing the cattle corridor, alongside a Musoga woman carrying a hoe and a child on her back as she heads to the garden. A man holding a stick represents security and livestock herding, while maize symbolises the area’s agricultural economy.

Musoke said the design was deliberately created in three dimensions so that visitors could appreciate it from different entrances to the roundabout.

“The Monument which is designed in 3 dimension so that one can view it from any entrance was supposed to have the water fountain flowing to add beauty is still under construction but has stalled due to lack of funds. Many even want it painted but to a serious artist, the original craft work is better off original,” he said.

Council explores private partnerships

Kamuli Municipal Planner Jacob Kaleebi said the council was struggling to secure the funding required to complete the monument, which he described as an important feature of the municipality.

He said the council was considering partnerships with private companies and advertisers to finance the remaining works, citing Jinja City’s arrangement involving Kakira Sugar Works as a possible model.

Kaleebi said such partnerships could allow the monument to serve both as a tourism attraction and a source of local revenue.

“The Municipal Council can negotiate with advertisers to lease it for say 10 years and they pay annual rent fees like MTN is doing with the Billboards and Kakira is doing in Jinja city,” the planner said.

He added that completing the structure would improve Kamuli’s image and bring it in line with other towns that have invested in prominent public monuments.

Completion plan expected in 2026/27 budget

Kamuli Town Clerk Stanslaus Mangasa acknowledged the delay, attributing it to financial constraints, but said the municipality was looking at ways to revive and complete the project.

He said the council intended to include the monument under the Trade and Tourism priority allocation in the 2026/27 financial year budget, while remaining open to alternative financing arrangements that could accelerate completion.

Mangasa said the project was important to the municipality’s identity as the hometown of the Kyabazinga of Busoga and a gateway connecting Jinja, northern Uganda and the Teso sub-region.

He also pointed to the planned Jinja-Kamuli-Bukungu Ferry highway as a development that could stimulate trade and business activity in the area, increasing the importance of improving the municipality’s public image.

“We are looking to the Trade and Tourism budget component to bring this historic monument to its glamorous view and sight to welcome you to Kamuli and it will be a blend of historic, geographical and traditional sensitivity complete with modern artistic view,” the Town Clerk said.

Mangasa revealed that the municipality was also looking for potential advertisers and partners, mentioning Arab Contractors, MTN and Dei BioPharma as possible companies that could establish a presence through the project.

The proposed partnerships, he said, could help the municipality complete the monument while giving private companies an opportunity to associate with Kamuli’s identity and development.

For now, the monument remains unfinished, eight years after work began, with its completion dependent on the council securing the resources or partnerships needed to turn the original design into a finished public landmark.