The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology returns Artefacts from Cambridge to Uganda

The artefacts returning to Kampala were chosen by colleagues from the Uganda Museum following a research visit to Cambridge in November 2022. They were selected to highlight diverse aspects of Ugandan history, and to be representative of different communities: Kingdoms and peoples represented in the collection include Acholi, Ankole, Baganda, Bahima, Bakedi, Banyoro and Teso.

The artefacts were acquired in various ways, through confiscation, conversion, theft, gift and purchase. Most of the items returning to Uganda were brought by the Anglican missionary Reverend John Roscoe. But several were donated to the Museum by Apolo Kaggwa, Katikiro (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Buganda. Other donors include British colonial officials Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston, Ernest Balfour Haddon, Frank Rogers, and John Gilbert Rubie, and Anglican Missionary Arthur Bryan Fisher.

The artefacts are returning, in the first instance, on loan to the Uganda Museum, to support the development of a more equitable future for the collection. We look forward to supporting the work of the Uganda Museum and partners to research the histories and contemporary significance of these objects, and to inform decisions about their future care. Full descriptions, details of provenance and context, and additional images may be accessed for each artefact via the MAA Online Catalogue.

Main Image :Objects from the Roscoe collection at MAA Cambridge: Royal drum (l), Buganda, Uganda, ROS 1920.316; Black glazed earthenware milk pot (r), Buganda, Uganda, ROS 1920.127. Collected and donated by Rev. John Roscoe.