Buganda Kingdom, a 700 year Kingdom is one of the largest Kingdoms on the African Continent. Buganda is also the first place where European Missionaries first landed to spread the Gospel. First, the Church Missionary Society in 1777 before they were followed in 1779 by the French Roman Catholics. As such, the Baganda and Buganda were the beneficiaries of early education and training and, as a result of that happenstance, continued to lead in both private and public sector development. The Baganda from Buganda are also the largest ethnic group in Uganda.
Historically, when Kabakas [Kings] died, the traditional practice was to bury each Kabaka at a separate site and to establish a royal shrine to house his jawbone which was believed to contain his spirit at another site. These shrines were started by descendants of the Kabaka's leading chiefs, his wives, his ritual half-sister, and by a spirit medium through which the dead Kabaka communicated with his successors
Located in Buganda, several minutes outside Kampala, the Capital of Uganda, the Kasubi Tombs, are the burial grounds for the following previous four Kabakas [Kings]:
Muteesa I (1835-1884)
Basamula Mwanga II (1867-1903)
Daudi Chwa II (1896-1939)
Fredrick Walugembe Muteesa II (1924-1969) [Father of the current King of Buganda].
The tombs are a very important cultural and spiritual center for the Royal Family, a place where Baganda and tourists flock to observe and pay homage to the deceased Kings who were laid to rest at this ancestral site. Recognized by the United Nations Educational & Scientific Organization as one of very few National Treasures in the world. The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.
The tombs are housed in a thatched hut and the process of thatching is reserved to certain people. Because of the very flammable nature of the material used to construct the thatched hut. In fact, the tragedy resulting in the loss of treasures that are several hundred years old was facilitated as a result of the flammable nature of the material. A tragedy that befell Buganda, is an experience and eye-opener that is going to force Baganda and sympathizers from all over the world, to consider putting in place, certain measurers to ensure that this tragedy and others elsewhere in Buganda which may arise in the future do not operate to destroy treasures and human life.
Ttabamiruka 11 is going to discuss, among many other things, how Baganda might better preserve their treasures and heritage. More details regarding the Kasubi Tombs tragedy and efforts may be accessed via the following websites:
Ttabamiruka® is a registered trademark of Ggwangamujje NY/NJ, Inc. in the United States of America. Its use and republication without prior permission is strictly prohibited.
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