Turbulent times in Uganda from 1962 to 2008: a sculptural interpretation of the education sector.

Abstract

Uganda has gone through turbulent times from 1962 to 2008. This was because of the nature of politics especially after Independence. These turbulent times have affected negatively most sectors. The purpose of this study was to explore through sculptural forms how these turbulent times affected the educational sector. The study was qualitative and exploratory and descriptive in nature. The study reviewed a number works in the same category whose photographs are included in this research. It involved 60 participants who were taken from different institutions of higher learning and conversant with sculpture and the history of Uganda. The study covered Luwero triangle and some parts of the Northern Uganda. The information from respondents was interpreted through sketching, studio work and sculptures capturing the turbulent times produced. The findings which are presented through three dimensional (JD) sculptures show that education like any other sector was greatly affected. That school infrastructure and scholastic materials were destroyed. These families were displaced and life lost. This led to loss of homes, stress and lack of concentration. The study found out that although government has since tried to restore the education sector with infrastructure which gives people hope, there are few permanent visual reminders that would deter the occurrence of the same situation. The study further found out that all these are not properly communicated to the people. The study recommended the introduction of sculptures depicting what happened such that people do not repeat the same.