Uganda Heritage Conference Highlights Need to Preserve Architectural Identity amid Urban Growth
The 3rd Uganda National Cultural Heritage Conference was held at Fairway Hotel Kampala, bringing together cultural leaders, heritage experts, and policymakers to examine how the country could modernize its cities without losing its architectural identity. Held under the theme Urbanization without Eraser: Architectural Heritage in Uganda’s Changing Urban Centers, the conference focused on balancing rapid urban development with the preservation of historic buildings. Speaking during the event, John Dconanck called for deliberate efforts to safeguard Uganda’s architectural heritage. He emphasized that urbanization should not be equated with demolition, but rather seen as an opportunity to renovate and adapt existing structures. Dconanck noted that old buildings are more than physical structures, describing them as carriers of community identity and history, and warned that once such heritage is destroyed, it cannot be recreated. He urged stakeholders to prioritize restoration over r...