New Kasubi tombs to be unveiled next year

Buganda Kingdom officials indicate that they have instituted better security measures to avoid a repeat of 2010 when the tombs caught fire.

Buganda Kingdom has announced that the unveiling of the Kasubi tombs, currently undergoing reconstruction, will take place next year.

The tombs listed on the world heritage list by United Nations Education, and Scientific, Culture Organisation (Unesco), will be opened to the public, after complete refurbishment by Omega Construction, which was awarded the Shs2.3 billion contract early this month.

The revelation was made yesterday by the Buganda Kingdom premier, Mr John Baptist Walusimbi, at the opening of the third kingdom parliamentary (Lukiiko) seating at Bulange - the administrative seat.

“The construction works of the tombs were finally handed over to the contractors and we expect them to be complete late this year,” Mr Walusmbi said.

He noted that all necessary support in the reconstruction had been availed to the kingdom from various stakeholders and “the tombs would be unveiled next year.”
The 130-year-old sanctified burial grounds for the kingdom royals were burnt on March 16, 2010, by a mysterious night inferno.

Still waiting
An inquiry into the matter by a six-member committee led by Justice Stephen George Engwau was launched and concluded in 2011 but the findings are yet to be made public.

Mr Walusimbi also maintained that the kingdom was this time around eagle-eyed on a number of security measures to be implemented, before the sites on the outskirts of Kampala are reopened to the public again.
“We now have all the necessary support from a number of stakeholders both in and outside the kingdom.”

Among the new security measures include doubling of security guards, installation of fire sensors and fighting equipment worth Shs1.2 billion; which were donated by the Japanese Kingdom through Unesco, and will be installed once completed.

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