Kasubi tombs is well known as historical site for the royal kings of Uganda in Buganda kingdom and was originally started as an agricultural land that was farmed in traditional techniques. In 1882 Kabaka Edward Mutesa I of Buganda decided to built the royal site replacing the palace that was built by his father Suuna II in early 1820. In 1882 the borders of the site were established on Kasubi hills by the “Sekabaka”. Kabaka Mutesa II appointed guards to protect the royal palace as soon as it was built. The tombs are located in suburb areas of Kasubi hill which happens to be one of the 9 hills in Kampala City along Hoima road. In 1938 Kabaka Mutesa II renovated the royal site using modern building methods and among the materials they used is steel structures, concrete columns and bricks which they concealed behind the traditional fences to protect the graves of the four kings of Buganda. In 1966 the building was abolished by the first prime minister Milton Obote who later became the first president of Uganda. In 1972 the Uganda law decided to protect the site and later it was registered in names of Kabaka on behalf of the kingdom and in 1993 the current President of Uganda reinstated it.
The new royal palace which was later changed by Mutesa I in 1884 to be the burial ground for the Kings of Buganda including Kabaka mutesa I who died in late 1969, Kabaka Mutesa II who died in 1903 in exile in Seychelles, Kabaka Daudi chwa died in 1939 and Sir Edward Mutesa II who passed away in London in 1971. These were the first four kings of Buganda in late 13th century who were buried in these Kasubi tombs.
The royal tombs locally referred as Muzibu Azaala Mpanga were built measuring 31 meters { 102 ft } and 7.5 meters { 25ft } long located at the edge of entrance. This traditional building was built in wooden poles, soil, clay, grasses, sand, thick thatched dome and 52 rings of palm fronds to represent 52 clans of Baganda people. This royal borders are marked with bark cloth trees to protect the palace to prevent people from trespassing.
The Kasubi Tombs has got very many traditional houses inside the palace including the gate house (Bajjabukula) which leads you to two courtyards, a small courtyard house for drums were they protect the royal drums in local name “ndogo obukaba” and then second court yard located on hilltops surround with reed fence which was fenced with wooden poles, clay nails and soil which beautifies the Kasubi tombs of Buganda and has become part of the famous Uganda Safaris.
The Kasubi tombs are place for traditional believers, cultural enthusiasts and the people who prefer most to go deep in researching about tradition such as witchcraft, traditional medicine and dressing. Inside the tombs houses are sacred forests and bark cloth which are used as curtains. Visitors who are looking for a Uganda Budgets Safaris can add this tour of the Kasubi Royal Tombs as part of their City Tour since its very cheap. To visit the tombs you shall be requested to put off of shoes and engage in on the cultural encounters inside the tombs where you can be able to view spears, arrows, bark cloth, the wooden poles and also to have great chance to be blessed on these royal grounds with your bare feets. These royal tombs is now in hands of Buganda king, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and other royal members who help to beautify the palace to keep the traditional history of Buganda. Charles Peter Mayiga the prime minister of Buganda has also done a great job on these royal tombs for them to standing as a traditional heritage site for the people of Buganda.
In 2001 Kasubi tombs became a UNESCO heritage site because of its traditional building which was built using vegetal materials in the entire sub saharan Africa. And the UNESCO part of it measures 26 hectares on the Kasubi hills in the city of kampala and 5 kilometers in the East of the city centers.
Unfortunately in March 2010, these Kasubi royal tombs were burnt and completely destroyed by fire and many traditional items were spoilt and up to now no one knows, what caused this fire and investigations is still going on . This fire outbreak made the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and the president H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to visit the site and agree on reforms to bring it back.
In 2014 they started to reconstruct it, through getting funds from the government of japan. Now the royal tombs have been reinstated in its traditional form and this has played a big role in Uganda’s tourism hub. To those who enjoy to experience city tour this site can be part of your tourist attractions within the city among the other safari destinations in the town as a budget safari to Uganda.
