After 12 years of rehabilitation, construction work on Buganda Royal Tombs (Amasiro) at Kasubi in Kampala is almost complete, the premier (Katikkiro) of Buganda Kingdom, Charles Peter Mayiga, has said. 

“Construction of Amasiro is almost done. It is just one stage left. I want to assure you that the construction of the Buganda Royal Tombs has never stopped even when it is a big job. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown time, the construction continued,” Mayiga said during his address to members of the Lukiiko (parliament) at Mengo, the seat of Buganda Kingdom. 

 Mayiga said, that the works are at 90%.  During the third sitting of the Buganda Lukiiko on Monday, Mayiga also spoke about a wide-range of issues including the rising commodity prices, which he said, can be tamed by Government slashing taxes. 

“We all eat cassava, but even bread is sweet. So, reduce taxes on bread so that we can also eat it,” Mayiga said. 

The Kasubi Royal Tombs/ mausoleum of Buganda kings was torched on March 16, 2010, nine years after it was declared a world heritage center by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). 

As part of the fund mobilization strategy, Mayiga launched a funding scheme (Ettoffaali) to support the kingdom’s development agenda, including the reconstruction of Amasiro. 

A committee to determine the cause of the fire and a commission of inquiry headed by Justice George Egwau were also set up by Government, but 12 years later, a report has never been made public. 

The 64-acre piece of land at Kasubi-Nabulagala houses a mausoleum of four former Buganda kings, Mwanga II, Mutesa I, Mutesa II and Daudi Chwa.