Fears Kasubi site will be removed from the list of heritage in danger

 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recommended that the Kasubi site, which includes the tombs of the “Kings of Buganda”, a traditional kingdom in southern Uganda damaged by a fire in 2010, be removed from the list of endangered heritage sites after it has been rebuilt.

This recommendation will be submitted to the 21 member states of the World Heritage Committee, which will meet from Sept. 10 to 25 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The removal of the Kasubi site from the list of heritage in danger would carry strong symbolism, according to UNESCO, given that 50 percent of the sites included on that list are located on the African continent.

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The Kasubi site was rebuilt with international funding after a fire in March 2010 largely destroyed the main building called Muzibo-Azala-Mbanga, which houses the tombs of four of the Kabaka, meaning kings of Buganda, the first traditional kingdoms of Uganda.

The 2010 fire caused deep grief among the Baganda, subjects of the Buganda kings and one of Uganda’s main ethnic groups.

The incident sadly came at a time when relations between the government and the Baganda were tense after a travel ban imposed on their king in September 2009 led to widespread riots around Kampala, leaving at least 27 dead.

After the fire, at least two people were killed by Ugandan security forces, who were confronted by supporters of the “Kabaka” who were protesting against President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to the stricken site.

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The Baganda enjoy great economic and political influence, and are closely linked to their kings and revere Ronald Mwenda Mutebe II, to whom President Museveni symbolically restored his rights in 1993.

Museveni came to power in 1986 in the wake of the jungle war, which he won with the support of Buganda. Many Baganda despised Museveni’s rival, former President Milton Obote, for having outlawed the tribal kingdoms and forcing the Kabaka to leave Uganda.