Elizabeth Avenue in Kololo, Kampala, is one of the many streets that retain names from Uganda’s colonial past. PHOTOS/Geoffrey Mutumba
The High Court recently ordered Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to remove colonial names on city roads and rename the streets in honour of Ugandan heroes and heroines. Then High Court judge Musa Ssekaana, now a Court of Appeal judge, said the change would honour Africans who fought for independence and contributed positively to the nation’s development. The ruling on February 27 also said the move would promote community harmony and do away with colonial legacies.
But experts in geographic information systems (GIS) warn that this shift from colonial-era names to local alternatives would disrupt digital navigation and might take time to register on the navigation systems and disrupt mobility in the short run.
Businesses to be hit
The experts say the transition could create confusion since it involves more than just replacing physical road signs. They cite the cases of businesses, ride-hailing services, and delivery companies that rely heavily on digital mapping for navigation and directions.
David Kato, a GIS specialist and digital mapping consultant, says the renaming of Kampala roads would create confusion, especially for global positioning system (GPS)-based businesses, which requires a collective effort of stakeholders to feed new navigation apps with new data for rectification.
“Google maps does not automatically update road names when a city changes them. The process requires official submissions and to be verified by Google’s Geo Data team, including third-party mapping providers and user contributors,” he says.
Kato says this takes some time before the new names get validated and appear on GIS devices.
“If a boda rider or an Uber driver is looking for a road that has changed names but their app still reflects the old name, they may struggle to locate customers. Businesses listed under old road names could also lose visibility,” Kato adds.
Updating names on GPS devices
Jerome Okot, an IT and navigation systems expert at Milima Cyber Academy, says there are well-defined protocols for updating location data. He says google as one of the navigation applications [google maps] gets a database handled by the Geo-data team that initiates a comprehensive verification process. He says this follows a structured process to confirm the legitimacy of the change.
Okot also notes that aside from official submissions by the authorities, google maps allow individuals to suggest edits using the ‘Suggest an Edit’ feature in the app.
“This tool lets users report incorrect road names, add missing streets, or update information. However, just because a user submits an edit does not mean it will be approved immediately. Google still reviews the suggestion by checking satellite images, previous names, and other sources before making the change,” he says.
Dan Nuwabine, the spokesperson of KCCA, said they would not undertake any direct updating to handle any potential discrepancies between physical signage and digital mapping during the transition. He also said the responsibility to put proposed or newly renamed roads on the digital navigating systems would be down to the GPS systems’ managers to provide accurate information.
“It is ultimately the responsibility of digital navigation systems such as Google, Survey 123, and others to pick up the correct information once the names are officially designated and the road renaming process is completed so as to update their records," he said. “We shall even put the signage in our road name register and update it to the world,” Nuwabine adds.
What surveyors say
Surveyors say while renaming the roads does not alter land demarcations and positions, it can have implications on property identification, land subdivision applications, or valuation assessments.
James Lwanga, a registered land surveyor and urban planner, explains that land titles are primarily based on plot numbers, block numbers, and coordinates, not street names. But he says renaming roads can lead to discrepancies in records if relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Lands, do not update their databases accordingly.
“A road name is more of a reference point for navigation, but the legal identity of a property remains tied to its surveyed coordinates or datum points. However, banks and even property buyers often rely on road names for address verification. If these are not updated properly, it may cause mix-up,” he says.
“There’s also the issue of GIS-based mapping systems. If digital navigation services do not promptly reflect the new names, it could slow down location-based decision-making in urban planning and real estate development,” he adds.
Lands ministry reacts
Dennis Obbo, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, says despite changes in road names, existing land titles within Kampala will remain valid, and property owners will not be required to update their documentation as this will be done within the Lands system upon verification from the urban authorities.
“It will just be an update on the system, based on that physical planning layer on the area where the physical plan will bring you the right subways and the new names of the roads that will have been updated, " Obbo says.
Obbo also notes that land records and mapping systems would be updated to reflect the new road names as provided by the urban authorities without altering property ownership details.
Cost implications for businesses
Nuwabine says businesses that rely on navigation for their operations will need to update their systems to reflect the new road names to ensure their systems reflect accurate location information.
“For example, when roads such as ‘Frederick Lugard Road' are renamed, the GIS units within these businesses will need to integrate the new names into their databases so that customers and drivers are directed correctly," Nuwabine says.
Mark Ssewanyana, the director of BrandAds Uganda, a Kampala-based printing company, notes that many businesses will have to redesign and reprint their materials to reflect the new addresses.
"For a company that has been operating on a street like ‘Frederick Lugard Road,’ once the name changes, all their materials; receipts, invoices, letterheads, and business cards must be updated. It might seem like a small change, but businesses depend on consistency in their branding and communication and if a customer sees an outdated address, it affects sales," he says.
The cost of updating materials varies, depending on the design, type and quantity of the prints.
"A standard set of 100 business cards costs between Shs45,000 to Shs100,000, depending on the quality and design and inclusive of printing labour. Some cards are printed side by side while others are one sided. Receipt and invoice books are customised, so costs range from Shs20,000 upwards, depending on the number of pages and branding needs," he adds.
Similarly, Joshua Mugisha, the director at Vivid 3D signs, a company that specialises in signage production in Kampala, explains that entrepreneurs invest in acrylic, aluminum, or stainless steel signs because they are durable and customisable to fit their brand identity to enhance visibility and be noticeable.
"For businesses looking for quality 3D signage, the prices vary based on the material used and the size of the sign. Basic acrylic 3D signs range between Shs300,000 and Shs700,000, while stainless steel or aluminum options, which are more durable and weather-resistant, cost between Shs800,000 and Shs2m. If a business opts for illuminated signs with LED lighting, the price goes up, typically up to Shs5m, depending on the complexity of the design and installation requirements," he explains.
Background
John Ssempebwa, the petitioner in the case, argued, among other things, that most of the colonial administrators whose names our streets carried, were involved in mass killings, torture, and discrimination during their regime known as the Uganda Protectorate. He said KCCA cannot turn around to honour them by naming streets after them. Some of the names of the colonial administrators in question include Lord Fredrick Lugard, Sir Edward Colville, Col Trevor Ternan, Sir Henry (Harry) Hamilton Johnstone, and Sir Gerald Herbert Portal.
Others are Queen Alexandrina Victoria, King Edward VII, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth Mary Windsor II, Sir Ernest Lennox Berkeley, and Sir William Mackinnon.
Renamed city roads
Several roads in Kampala have undergone renaming in recent years as part of efforts to honour national figures. Among the notable changes are Kitante Road that was renamed Yusuf Lule Road in recognition of Uganda’s former president, while South Street became Ben Kiwanuka Road, honouring the country’s first prime minister. Similarly, Acacia Avenue was renamed John Babiha Road in tribute to the former minister and agriculturalist, and Wandegeya Road was changed to Hajji Kasule Road.
Road renaming process
Nuwabine says the road naming process starts from communities guided by the KCCA road naming guidelines, with members being asked to identify their roads and suggest possible names.
"We require a complete Road Naming Proposal Form, which is then reviewed based on uniqueness, historical significance, and clarity. Public involvement is a key part of the process, with affected residents and stakeholders consulted before the final decisions are made," he says.
The KCCA road renaming guidelines states that the process starts with a formal proposal from landowners, local committees, or organisations interested in a name change to KCCA for confirmation.
"Once a name is approved, we notify the public, update property records, and inform relevant agencies like emergency services and postal authorities to facilitate smooth transitions," Nuwabine adds.
The guidelines also give powers to the President, Parliament, the City Authority Council and Division Councils to make proposals through a resolution or Presidential directive to name an unnamed road or rename a road.
