Kasubi Tombs restoration nears completion, says Mayiga

The restoration of the historic Kasubi Tombs in Uganda has finally reached its last stage, according to the Premier of the Buganda Kingdom, Charles Peter Mayiga.

Speaking during a routine inspection on Wednesday, Mayiga acknowledged that the restoration process, which began in 2013, has been a long and challenging journey.

"It's now 12 years since we started on the restoration process, and in that period, we have worked on several structures, though the main tomb needs more extra care to have the right structure in place," Mayiga explained. "We have been working tirelessly to ensure that the tombs are restored to their former glory, and we are now in the final stages of completion."

Despite facing pressure to complete the project, Mayiga emphasised the importance of following guidelines and traditions to ensure that the restored tombs meet the required standards.

"We cannot rush the completion because people are putting us on pressure... We have to follow the guidelines and unveil a structure which attracts tourists within the country and from abroad," he said.

The Katikkiro (Premier) also highlighted the cultural significance of the Kasubi Tombs, which are the final resting place of four Buganda kings.

"We have cultural morals that characterised the tombs, these are not big hats but tombs, the resting place of our demised kings... We need to be very patient to make sure that what we get at the end are tombs that reflect our cultural heritage," he said.

The Kasubi Tombs, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, were damaged by a fire in 2010.

However, thanks to restoration efforts, the site was removed from UNESCO's endangered heritage list in September last year. The reconstruction was completed in the summer of 2023, allowing the site to return to its desired state of conservation.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in a statement praised the restoration efforts, saying, "This reconstruction is a collective success: that of the Ugandan authorities, Ugandan heritage professionals, but also the local communities who were at the heart of the process."

Mayiga also noted that although the tombs are not yet officially open, they have been conducting dry runs, and people have been visiting the site to get a glimpse of the restored tombs.