What do you know about Kasubi Tombs in Uganda? Look!

 

 Kasubi Tombs in Kampala, Uganda, is the site of the burial grounds for four Kabaka’s (Buganda kings) and other members of the Baganda royal family. The Kasubi Tombs that was first built in 1881 on the Kasubi hill in Kampala was later declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. As a result, the site remains an important spiritual and political site for the Ganda people as well as an important example of traditional architecture.

To the people of the Buganda (the largest sub-national kingdom in present-day Uganda), the tombs are a symbol of a spiritual, political and social state of its people. Despite the unfortunate incident, the site still gets regular visits while the main palace is being rebuilt and structured.

The World Heritage Site comprises around 26 hectares (64 acres) on the Kasubi hill in the city of Kampala about 5 kilometres northwest of the city centre. Most of the site is open agricultural land that is farmed using traditional techniques.

Historically, in 1882 Kabaka Muteesa relocated his palace to Nabulagala hill which was the capital of his father Suuna II. But later on, he renamed it Kasubi Hill which was his birth place. In 1884 he died and he was buried in his grass thatched Palace followed by other Kings; Mwanga, Daudi Chwa II and Edward Muteesa II whose body was returned back to his home land two years after his death in exile. 

 

In 2010 the major building at Kasubi Tombs was destroyed by the unknown fire outbreak but however it’s interesting to note that the Prime Minister of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga washed or wiped away the tears of Buganda when he initiated the idea for the reconstruction of the Tombs through the “Etofaali” where he solicited funds from various parts of Buganda, Uganda, and from Ugandans in Diaspora which has helped in the reconstruction process. 

 

Kasubi Tombs is categorized into three major areas namely; Bujabukula which is the large traditional reception, Muziba Azaala Mpanga-the burial ground for the Kabaka’s and lastly Ndoga Obukaba- the unroofed area that houses the traditional royal drums.

The tombs are maintained by the wives of the kings and their task is to look after the dead king, the wives are chosen from the clans of the departed Queens. Many of the king’s wives, sisters, and other female relatives are all buried at kasubi in the series of small buildings that flank the driveway but not in the main Palace.

Some sections of the main tomb are not accessible to everyone.  The Kibira is a scaring area of the main structure where the spirits of the Kings are believed to dwell. The place can only be accessed by widows of the Kings, the Katikkiro and some members of the royal family. Not even the reigning Kabaka can go there. Four rooms are built close to the Kibira housing the four wives of the dead kings.

While at the tombs, you can view the large hut holding the tombs, the royal clothing, hunting tools and other monuments of these past kings. The royal guides will share with you stories about each of the kings and the roles they played during their reign and history of the Baganda people.