In a move to bridge the gap between traditional heritage and modern safety, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) of Amolatar, Obonyo Magwar, has proposed a radical shift in Uganda’s architectural landscape.
Speaking at the 3rd National Cultural Heritage Conference held on May 5, 2026, at the Fairway Hotel in Kampala, Magwar urged architects to design homes with “inbuilt” security features.
He argued that as Parish Development Model beneficiaries grow their enterprises, they face a rising threat of housebreaking and burglary.
“Well-crafted architectural innovations can secure valuable property without forcing farmers to incur the high costs of digital gear or private guards,” Magwar stated.
Beyond homes, national safety, the deputy RDC says extend beyond domestic security to national defense.
He challenged the architectural discipline to take a lead role in strategic national planning, suggesting the design of mass protection bunkers to safeguard citizens against catastrophes or external armed attacks.
To illustrate that security and heritage can coexist, he shared photos of a colonial chief’s house in Aputi, Amolatar, which features a sophisticated internal safe—a relic of historical foresight.
Representing one of Uganda’s “far-to-reach” districts, Magwar briefed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, the Commissioner of Museums, and other dignitaries on Amolatar’s proactive steps to preserve its history.
Under the Office of the District Community Development Officer (DCDO), led by Otile Patrick, the district has begun documenting historical sites currently in deplorable states.
One standout project involves a colonial cotton sorting facility at Amolatar SS.
Magwar proposed converting this site into a “community baraza” center and a collection store for high-value crops like coffee and cocoa, which are being championed by the district’s production office for long-term wealth creation.
He also used the platform to market Amolatar as a premier tourism destination, inviting participants to visit the “Center of Uganda” at Abako.
The deputy RDC emphasised that the gazetted site has the potential to become an international tourism hub, bringing jobs and business opportunities to the local community.
The conference, themed “Urbanisation without Eraser: Architectural Heritage in Uganda’s Changing Urban Centres,” concluded with a powerful call to action from the Department of Museums and Monuments: “Do we demolish and forget, or adopt and remember our past?”
The event served as a curtain-raiser for the upcoming International Museums Day celebrations, scheduled for May 18 at the Rugby Grounds in Jinja, with Miss Tourism pageants joining the call for national participation.
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