Kabaka Mutebi wipes away tears during his visit to the tombs

By Henry Mukasa
and Eddie Sejjoba

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered for an immediate probe into the burning of the Buganda royal tombs. He pledged that the Government would support the kingdom to reconstruct the world-famous monument. 

“We are sorry for what happened and we mourn together with Buganda Kingdom in this matter but we are going to investigate the cause to find out whether it was intended,” Museveni said after inspecting the ruins yesterday morning.

“It is unfortunate that most of the valuables were burnt,” he added.

Museveni arrived amid tight security by the PGB that included his son, Lt. Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the military and anti-riot Police. Museveni was received by the Buganda minister for protocol and cabinet affairs, Kabuuza Mukasa.

The President demanded to know who had blocked the Police fire trucks from accessing the site to extinguish the fire at a critical moment.

At the site, Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura and the in-charge of the tombs, Princess Beatrice Namikka, briefed him about the incident.

A female caretaker told the President that at 8:00pm as she walked out of the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga, she saw the right hand side of the mausoleum on fire and made an alarm.

“I shouted and called out the ladies who were still inside to dash out because flames were spreading fast,” she told the President.

She said they tried to use a hand fire extinguisher but failed and resorted to using jerrycans and basins filled with water but they could not contain the fire. She made an alarm that attracted neighbours. However, she ruled out power circuit and said the fire must have been started by an arsonist.

In a reaction, Museveni said: “I am suspicious but I don’t know whether it was a deliberate act or an accident.
He regretted that the crowd had interfered with the scene of the crime and it was no longer easy to ascertain if it was arson.