UGA: Kasubi Tombs

Masiro Road, Kampala, Uganda

Kasubi Tombs is the burial site for four kings of the traditional kingdom of Buganda, as well as other members of the royal family. It was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites at the end of 2001, given its status as "one of the most remarkable buildings using purely vegetal materials in the entire region of sub-Saharan Africa".

I booked a special hire taxi from Kampala Taxi, a reliable company that's responsive via e-mail, to go to several places around the capital city of Uganda. UGX 165,000 (~S$59.75) was the price that my BFF and I paid for a half-day trip.

There's a sign saying "Science equipment and chemical store".

It was unfortunate that a suspected arson happened in 2010, engulfing some of the major structures in flame. Since then, the site List of World Heritage in Danger. Till today, the site is still closed to the public, but thanks to our driver who negotiated with one of the staff members there, we managed to get a sneak peek of the grounds. The official entrance fee is UGX 10,000 (~S$3.65) per person.

First of all, we walked through bujjabukula, a guard house built in 1882, which marks the entrance to the grounds of the tombs.

We were told about the history of the kingdom, starting from its birth in the 14th century.

The grass-thatched roof resting on structural rings made of palm tree fronds looks intriguing.

Kato Kintu, the founder and the first king of Buganda, laid an ambitious vision for the kingdom. It eventually became one of the largest and most powerful in East Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Culturally speaking, women aren't allowed to enter the building storing the royal drums.

That's one of the surviving wooden cannons used in the past.

The entire site covers an area of 26.8 hectares.

Reconstruction of the tombs started in 2014, funded by the government of Japan.

Before we left the site, the male staff member who had been showing us around brought us to see a royal living creature.

Such a plump, yet elegant turkey!

Following the independence of Uganda in 1962, the kingdom of Buganda was abolished by Milton Obote, the first prime minister of the country, in 1966. However, following years of political disturbance, Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda since 1986, eventually authorised the restoration of the kingdom in 1993. With the coexistence of the main government and the kingdom, tensions between the two continue to be a defining feature of Ugandan politics.