The Architectural Work of Kasubi Royal Tombs

The Architectural Work of Kasubi Royal Tombs: The Kasubi royal tombs are a major cultural tourist site in Kampala, known for their rich history and architectural work not only in Uganda but Africa at large. The royal tombs are located about 5 kilometres from the capital, Kampala city centre. To reach the tombs, you may start at Makerere University, go through Nakulabye, turn onto Hoima Road, and then drive up to Kasubi Hill.

At the top, turn onto Masiro Road to find the entrance. Visitors must check in with royal guards and fill out information before receiving a ticket. The entrance fee is around 10 dollars for foreigners and 10,000 Ugandan shillings for Ugandans, which supports maintenance and staff. Upon payment, visitors are assigned a guide for the tour with the rich information that dates back a couple of centuries.

Things to Know about the Kasubi tombs

The Kasubi royal tombs are the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Kampala and a key attraction for visitors. Throughout the year, various traditional and spiritual ceremonies take place, including unique royal burial ceremonies. Events like welcoming the moon and consulting mediums are also part of the traditions.

Many subjects and traditional medicine practitioners from the Buganda Kingdom visit the tombs for blessings from the spirits of kings. The current king, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, usually only visits when travelling abroad for ancestral blessings.

In 1938, renovations at the royal tombs by Kabaka Mutesa II used modern materials like concrete, steel, and brick, though local materials were given an upper hand. The tombs attract people interested in the Ngo clan’s history and those wishing to learn thatching skills from the Ngeye clan.

Challenges, Conservation and the recent fires in the Kasubi tomb

The reconstruction of the Kasubi tombs has faced funding shortages due to management issues. Despite being a national treasure, the Buganda Kingdom maintains control over the tombs, leading to delays from conflicts over management. Traditionists want to preserve ancient rituals, while some royals advocate for change. To secure more funding from NGOs and the government, there is a call for better accountability and monitoring of how the site is managed.

However, restoration and preservation of the Kasubi royal tombs in good condition requires good management, monitoring and repetitive replacement of decaying grass. Luckily, of all things, skilled local artisans still exist, and so does the grass. However, replacing the grass, paying these skilled artisans and the other technical personnel working at the site requires significant financial strength.

The Architectural Completion of the Kasubi tombs

The materials used in the construction of the tombs are always vulnerable to major fires. Following this article, for those who didn’t know what took place is that in March 2010, the tombs were engulfed by devastating fire that gutted the main building (Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga) and the smaller huts that surrounded it. Various objects of the royal regalia and other symbolic mediums in the superior tomb were destroyed.

Although some structures, like the small round huts where the royal drums are kept weren’t destroyed.  However, up to now, the cause of the fire remains unknown. Despite all that, the commission that was appointed to investigate the cause of the fires finalised their work, but surprisingly the report has never been made available to the public.

This leaves a lot of questions to answer and has left many speculating and figuring out while pointing fingers. Many suspect it was a criminal act of deliberately setting fire to the property, while others suspect a lightning strike or simple negligence from un known individual. Based on this unfortunate incidence, the Kasubi royal tombs were in 2010 officially included in the list of World Heritage Sites that were in danger.

Reconstructing the tombs to completion has been slow despite a significant financial investment of over 2 billion Uganda shillings by the Uganda government. However, the slow progress was attributed to the various rituals and ceremonies that had to be followed.

More still, the Japanese government offered extra funding in 2014 to support the reconstruction of the tombs while ensuring that contemporary safety methods are in place. Besides the funding, the Japanese moved ahead and sent a team of experts in restoring cultural sites and property so that they can work hand in hand with the local people and ensure that the tombs are restored and secure.