The Kasubi Tombs is the burial ground/cemetery of 4 late Kabakas (Kings) of Buganda). This cultural site is located about 5 kilometers from the city center of Kampala. Located on Kasubi Hill, the Kasubi tomb is the only UNESCO World heritage site in Kampala city.
The Site was initially built in 1882 as a royal palace for the Kabaka but was converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. The palace was built by Kabaka Mukaabya Walugembe Kayiira Muteesa popularly referred to as Muteesa I. Muteesa 1 was the 30th Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda, who reigned from 1856 until 1884.
Currently, the Kasubi tombs is the official royal burial grounds of the Kingdom Of Buganda. The royal cemetary is the home of tombs for Kabaka Muteesa I, Mwanga II, Daudi Chwa II and Sir Edward Muteesa II. All princes (Abalangila) and princesses (Abambejja) who are direct descendants of the Kabaka are buried at the back of the main shrine.
In total, there are currently 31 royal tombs spread across the Kingdom of Buganda. Currently, the Kasubi tombs remains the biggest of them all sitting of approximately 30ha of land. Undoubtedly, the site is leading heritage sites in Uganda.
In 1972, The government of Uganda gazetted the site and it became a protected site by Ugandan law. It however remains the property of Buganda Kingdom. In 2001, the Kasubi tombs became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To date, the site remains the most visited place by tourists visiting Kampala on a safari.
The main shrine at the Kasubi Tombs is Called “Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga”. A huge, magnificently crafted ancient grass thatched shrine. Its believed that “Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga” is the largest grass thatched building on earth. The building is made out of Reeds, bamboo, woods and roofed with grass thatch.
Inside The Fence Of Kasubi Tombs
Inside the now wall fenced tombs are three sections. The “Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga” main shrine where the tombs of the 4 Kings are, Another area behind the main shrine with several smaller buildings and graveyards and a large farmland.
There are also several smaller houses that were built for the Kings wives. Others belong to other members from the royal family, the Nalinya -a spiritual guardian and her deputies. At the time of writing this article, Princess (Omumbejja) Victoria Beatrice Namikka Kamuwanda Mpologoma was the Nalinya and Guardian of the tombs.
The walls of “Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga” – the main structure are decorated with bark cloth. The floor bears mats on which visitors sit. There are pictures of all the Kings and other regalia plus leopard skin stuffed to look like a live one.
At the roof inside the main shrine are rings of spears holding the roof together. Each of these represents the 52 clans of Buganda.
There is a section in the shrine which is not accessible to anyone apart from a selected few. The section called Kibira “sacred forest” is not open to visitors. Its held by the Baganda that this sacred area is where the spirits of the Kings dwell. The only people who can enter the Kibira are widows of the Kings, the reigning Katikkiro of Buganda and some few other members of the royal family. The reigning Kabaka is not allowed to enter the Kibira.
Kabaka’s Wives Inside Kasubi Tombs.
At all times, Each departed Kabaka has a “wife” in the Kasubi Tombs. Upon the demise of the queen, a new “wife’ is selected for the Kabaka from the same clan as the departed queen. These wives, each leaves in a room near the Kibira. Since there are four Kings currently buried at the site, there are four wives to the kings who stay here. Their task is to look after the dead king.
The story Behind the Leopard in Kasubi Tombs.
A story is told that while he lived, Kabaka Mutesa 1 had a pet. Muteesa’s pet was not your usual cat, it was a living Leopard. He kept it in his palace and it was very friendly. Upon his demise in 1884, the Leopard became difficult to control and killed several people. The palace guardians decided to kill the leopard to save lives. But because they wanted to keep the memory of their king’s pet, they filled its skin with material to retain its live shape. To date, the leopard resides in the main shrine at Kasubi tombs.
Building and Maintaining the Shrine.
There are 52 Clans in Buganda. Each clan is responsible for a particular task at the tomb. The Ngeye (Colobus Monkey) clan are responsible for maintaining the thatched roofs at the tombs. As members of a clan age, they pass on their skills to younger ones who take on the task of maintaining the tombs.
