Kampala city is located in Buganda region though the current government wants to isolate it from Buganda due to political climate in Uganda but the actual fact is under Buganda geographically and historically. The city has many attractions, one of them is the Kasumbi tombs.
This is the resting place of the fallen kings of Buganda called Kabakas. It is located in West Kampala, Rubaga Division, it takes about 5 minutes from Kampala city center to the tombs via the newly opened road called Kampala Northern Bypass. The tombs are considered by the Baganda tribe as the main spiritual center for the burial of their kings.
Four successive Kabakas (Kings) of Buganda were buried in the same tomb at Kasubi, viz;
-Mutesa 1 (1835-1884)
-Mwanga 11 (1867-1903)
-Daudi Chwa (1896-1939)
– Mister. Eduardo Mutesa (1924-1969)
Kasubi tombs have unique architecture, a large rounded thatched hut, very magnificent and currently considered as a man-made natural wonder of the world, could be compared to Egyptian pyramids. wall coverings, colorful woven mats on the floor, it’s so clean and quiet, in the corner is a stuffed leopard. This was a pet used by Kabaka Mutesa 1 and the myth behind the story is when the Kabaka Mutesa 1 who was so close to the leopard died that he became so abandoned and began to become violent that he was sacrificed and taken to the graves.
Outside the huge tombs are other small tombs, thatched huts numbering about 10 around the main tombs, these were burial places for kings’ wives but it is not known how many were buried in them as traditionally Kabakas were considered to be polygamous.
Outside the gates of the Kasubi tombs there isn’t much to offer such as a good restaurant, hotel or cafeteria, even decent toilets. The nearest places are Nakulabye, Mengo or when you take the Northern By pass Kasumba Square might be the place to be for these poor facilities. The Kasubi Tombs are worth visiting once you are in Uganda because it is both historical and cultural.
