Tombs of Buganda kings at kasubi, royal burial ground on the outskirts of kampala, uganda, that was converted from a palace in the 19th century and holds the tombs of four Buganda kings. The site stretches over almost 74 acres of land in the Kampala’s capital and consists of several different structures, including the palace turned-tomb and burial site for other royal relatives. The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year of 2001.
The Buganda kingdom was founded in the late 14th century by Bantu-speaking peoples. By the 19th century it had become the largest and powerful kingdom in the region. Buganda kings, were called “KABAKAS” , exercised strong centralized control over their domain. The first Kabaka to live at the site was King Muteesa 1, who ruled from the year of 1856 up to his death in 1884. He built a palace in 1882 on a hill in Nabulagala, which he renamed Kasubi. When Muteesa died, his palace become his burial ground. Notably Muteesa was the first Buganda king to be buried with his jawbone “intact”. Traditional practice was to put the jawbone in a separate shrine, because it was believed that it spirit of the deceased. The three Muteesa successors that is his son Mwanga, grandson Daudi Chwa11 and the great-grandson Muteesa11- were also buried in the site.
The primary structure at Kasubi is the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, a large circular building with a thatched dome roof. A major architectural achievement, the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga was designed in traditional Buganda style. It was built with wood, thatch, spear grass and reeds, using the wattle-and-daub construction technique (weaving poles or stakes together with twinges and branches and covering them with clay. The Muzibu Azaala Mpanga is massive its interior reaches 24.6feets tall and its external measures101.6 feet.
Inside the different burial chambers are distinguished by bark cloth dividers. Also at the site are the gatehouse called the Bujjabukula, which serves at the entrance to the site, the main courtyard called the Olugya and other buildings used for various purposes.
Not only is the Buganda burial ground architecturally significant but it is also a place of active religious practice. Spiritual leaders and perform ceremonies there and UNESCO has called the site “the most active religious place in the kingdom”. The site holds spiritual significance for the Buganda people , the members fo the political and cultural significance for them as well as serving as a symbol of the unity and perseverance of the kingdom, which had been abolished in 1976by Uganda’s president at that time Milton Obote but was restored in 1993.
In March 2010 a fire broke out at the Tombs of Buganda Kings, burning the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga to the ground. There was no clear origin of that fire and many suspected arson. The destruction fueled government and the Buganda people, many of whom felt that the government was undermining the leadership of the Buganda kingdom. Hundreds of Buganda people flocked to the tombs to witness and mourn the loss. The “people are camped there”, the Buganda kingdom spokesperson by that time was OWEK. Charles Peter Mayiga told the New York Times soon after the fire occurred.
“They lit fires, they keep on singing the kingdom anthem. But there is tension that you can notice” When the Ugandan president arrival to see what happened and the to survey the damage , the Buganda people who were very annoyed about the situation they protested and attempted to block him from entering, but police officers initially fired into the air then shorting and killing at least two protesters. In the after of the tragedy, the Tombs of Buganda kings at Kasubi were added to the World Heritage in Danger list. With the aid of donation from Japan government as well as other contributions UNESCO was able to help Uganda authorities rebuild the site. Before reconstruction efforts were completed, the site was once again damaged by fire in 2020. This time only one hut was affected.
The restoration was completed in 2023, later that year the site was removed from the World Danger list. And the Kasubi tomb remains as the World’s biggest grass hatched house in the whole world.
A princess who is called Nalinya is the one who escorts the Kabaka during coronation and one who is a custodian of the royal Tomb. Princess Damalie Nkinzi, a sister to Muteesa I became the first princess to be called the title of Naalinya because of her slow behavior. These are some of the existing Naalinyas in Buganda.
The word is generally used among friends. The meaning of kasubi is the man or woman who has intercourse with more than one man or woman who has lost his or her character. The word kasubi is used to mean a lady with immortal character.
Also the king of Buganda Kabaka Mwanga 11 contributed together with the king of Bunyoro Kitara king Kabalega against the colonial British rule, however, they were not successful they got defeated and exiled to Seychelles island where he died in 1903 and his remains were brought home in 1910 and buried to Kasubi Tombs.
