By Anthony Ssempereza

Mengo government has set up a committee to rebuild Kasubi tombs, which were razed to the ground by fire on Tuesday.

According to the Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro (Prime Minister), JB Walusimbi, this committee is charged with a duty of analysing what was destroyed and draw a reconstruction budget.

The committee announced on Thursday that an account, Kasubi Royal Tombs, number 2210600019 was opened in Centenary Bank, where all well wishers can contribute towards the rebuilding of Uganda’s national heritage site.

Other assistance can be delivered to the office of the Katikkiro at Bulange. The Government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have pledged to assist once the budget has been made.

However, there are certain items that cannot be replaced. According Nnalinya Beatrice Namikka, the princess in charge of the tombs, items of historical, spiritual and sentimental value may be replaced by replicas but these cannot have a similar value.

“Some items are of spiritual value to our kingdoms and many of which are not traceable today. Happily, many of those which are so vital to the continued existence of the Buganda Kingdom were saved.”

Items which cannot be replaced
The Spears
Kasubi tombs housed spears that were used by Mutesa I, Mwanga II, Chwa II and Muteesa II, the kings who were interred at the tombs. Replicas would not have the same value.

The Leopard skin
There was a stuffed leopard whose skin belonged to a kept leopard by King Mutesa I. It used to protect him and his palace in Kasubi. When it died, its skin was preserved as a symbol of protection.

The board game
Omweso (board game) is an indoor game for Baganda. It was originally played by the king and the royal family. It was Kabaka Mutesa I who allowed his pages (commoners) to start playing it. One such board game from history was preserved at Kasubi tombs.

Kabakas’ rings
In the tombs were rings worn by the Kabakas who were interred there. Buganda’s Kabaka are not buried with rings. They are removed and kept to symbolize the continuity of the Kabakaship. The rings of the four kings were destroyed.

Baskets
Ebibbo (baskets), which were in the tombs, had many uses and a lot of significance. Many can be replaced. But the specific baskets which were attached to the spirits of Buganda and used to collect money for the spirits (ebiggali) were destroyed. Whoever visited the masiro put some money into them to appease Buganda spirits and receive blessings from them.
Shields

Shields (Engabo) that belonged to specific kings and their loyal guards and successful warriors were preserved in the tombs. These were used in specific battles, for protection and expansion. They symbolized Buganda’s might.

Vital items which were saved include The Kabakas’ umbilical cords. These are very important items to the kingdom. They are referred to as the twins of the kings. (Abalongo ba Kabaka).

A king’s umbilical cord is not thrown away but preserved in bark cloth. These were wrapped in bark clothes and that explains how they survived.

Some spears were recovered although their handles (miwunda) were destroyed. They just need to be replaced.

Namikka said a big number of items were saved by people who came before the fire spread.

She doubted if the beauty of Kasubi tombs would be restored. In 2000-2001, the tombs were repaired, the old roof was removed and the tombs were raised to international standards which prompted UNESCO to recognise it as a World Heritage Site.