Man confesses to burning Kasubi
A MAN yesterday walked to a Kampala Police station and allegedly confessed setting ablaze the Kasubi Tombs, a renowned world heritage site.
By Herbert Ssempogo, Annet Naluggwa
and Edward Anyoli
A MAN yesterday walked to a Kampala Police station and allegedly confessed setting ablaze the Kasubi Tombs, a renowned world heritage site.
The March 16 inferno at the royal tombs, locally known as masiro, sparked an emotional outcry from the Baganda, the biggest ethnic group in Uganda.
Dressed in shorts and African garb, Joseph Musoke early in the morning went to the Central Police Station and reportedly told Police officers that he felt guilty.
He clutched a bible, a cross, a big rosary and pictures of the Virgin Mary.
Musoke, a resident of Ndejje in Makindye-Sabagabo sub-county in Wakiso district was advised to go to Old Kampala Police Station which has jurisdiction over the area.
“However, instead of going to Old Kampala as he was advised, he went to a Police post in Nakulabye,†Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said.
“He told them that he was feeling guilty and regretted torching the masiro. He believed they were satanic.â€
According to Musoke, the “ungodliness†of the tombs was the cause of all the problems in Uganda and had to be destroyed for peace to prevail.
The witchdoctor-turned-Catholic reportedly claimed he got a vision in which the Holy Spirit showed him the trouble emanating from the masiro.
Following the alleged vision, he ran to Kasubi where he tried to destroy the regalia, like spears and bows, but the guards allegedly restrained him. He went away only to return another day to set the tombs ablaze.
“I went to the Katikkiro and narrated to him everything but he did not bother so I got a box of matches and set the place on fire,†he allegedly told the Police. He specified that he went through the backyard and lit a matchstick which he threw on the dry grass.
It was not possible to get a comment from the Katikkiro by press time.
However, on getting the information, senior CID detectives collected Musoke who was still undergoing interrogation by press time.
“We are not going to handle this lightly. It is another line of inquiry,†Nabakooba stated, adding that the suspect would be subject to a medical examination to ascertain his mental status.
CID deputy director Elly Womanya told The New Vision that Musoke’s statements were being probed. However, he stressed that it was too early to describe his claims as a confession.
Musoke’s sister, Nalongo Namiiro, recollected that Musoke left their home in Ndejje at about 4:00am yesterday, prayed and bid her farewell, saying he was going to Jesus’ place.
Musoke had for years been a renowned witchdoctor, going by the name of Muwanga, with a residence at Zzana on the Entebbe-Kampala highway.
It is said that his father, who died in the 1960s, was also a prominent witchdoctor.
However, in the 1980s, Musoke developed problems and often went into trances, threatening to harm his family members. As a result, he sought the support of a Catholic priest who carried out a ritual at his home to exorcise the demons.
The priest set ablaze Musoke’s shrines in Ndejje after which he denounced witchcraft and became a devout Catholic.
His sister argues that when Musoke burnt the fetishes, including some left by their father, he ran berserk.
There were reports that he had been in and out of Police custody over various cases, which were never concluded because of his alleged mental disturbance.
A resident of Ndejje yesterday said Musoke surprised Catholics of St Kaloli Lwanga Church in Ndejje last Sunday when he turned up for prayers.
“It was the first time he was seen at the church and he even assisted in the collection of offertory,†the resident observed.
Musoke is the fourth suspect to be arrested in connection with the fire.
Others are Robert Mubiru, Bwanika Kasekendde and a man only identified as Bwanika.
Thousands of Baganda thronged Kasubi on Friday for prayers marking the end of a week-long mourning period. Kabaka Ronald Mutebi attended.
The place has since been sealed off as an over sh10b reconstruction project kicks off.
and Edward Anyoli
A MAN yesterday walked to a Kampala Police station and allegedly confessed setting ablaze the Kasubi Tombs, a renowned world heritage site.
The March 16 inferno at the royal tombs, locally known as masiro, sparked an emotional outcry from the Baganda, the biggest ethnic group in Uganda.
Dressed in shorts and African garb, Joseph Musoke early in the morning went to the Central Police Station and reportedly told Police officers that he felt guilty.
He clutched a bible, a cross, a big rosary and pictures of the Virgin Mary.
Musoke, a resident of Ndejje in Makindye-Sabagabo sub-county in Wakiso district was advised to go to Old Kampala Police Station which has jurisdiction over the area.
“However, instead of going to Old Kampala as he was advised, he went to a Police post in Nakulabye,†Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said.
“He told them that he was feeling guilty and regretted torching the masiro. He believed they were satanic.â€
According to Musoke, the “ungodliness†of the tombs was the cause of all the problems in Uganda and had to be destroyed for peace to prevail.
The witchdoctor-turned-Catholic reportedly claimed he got a vision in which the Holy Spirit showed him the trouble emanating from the masiro.
Following the alleged vision, he ran to Kasubi where he tried to destroy the regalia, like spears and bows, but the guards allegedly restrained him. He went away only to return another day to set the tombs ablaze.
“I went to the Katikkiro and narrated to him everything but he did not bother so I got a box of matches and set the place on fire,†he allegedly told the Police. He specified that he went through the backyard and lit a matchstick which he threw on the dry grass.
It was not possible to get a comment from the Katikkiro by press time.
However, on getting the information, senior CID detectives collected Musoke who was still undergoing interrogation by press time.
“We are not going to handle this lightly. It is another line of inquiry,†Nabakooba stated, adding that the suspect would be subject to a medical examination to ascertain his mental status.
CID deputy director Elly Womanya told The New Vision that Musoke’s statements were being probed. However, he stressed that it was too early to describe his claims as a confession.
Musoke’s sister, Nalongo Namiiro, recollected that Musoke left their home in Ndejje at about 4:00am yesterday, prayed and bid her farewell, saying he was going to Jesus’ place.
Musoke had for years been a renowned witchdoctor, going by the name of Muwanga, with a residence at Zzana on the Entebbe-Kampala highway.
It is said that his father, who died in the 1960s, was also a prominent witchdoctor.
However, in the 1980s, Musoke developed problems and often went into trances, threatening to harm his family members. As a result, he sought the support of a Catholic priest who carried out a ritual at his home to exorcise the demons.
The priest set ablaze Musoke’s shrines in Ndejje after which he denounced witchcraft and became a devout Catholic.
His sister argues that when Musoke burnt the fetishes, including some left by their father, he ran berserk.
There were reports that he had been in and out of Police custody over various cases, which were never concluded because of his alleged mental disturbance.
A resident of Ndejje yesterday said Musoke surprised Catholics of St Kaloli Lwanga Church in Ndejje last Sunday when he turned up for prayers.
“It was the first time he was seen at the church and he even assisted in the collection of offertory,†the resident observed.
Musoke is the fourth suspect to be arrested in connection with the fire.
Others are Robert Mubiru, Bwanika Kasekendde and a man only identified as Bwanika.
Thousands of Baganda thronged Kasubi on Friday for prayers marking the end of a week-long mourning period. Kabaka Ronald Mutebi attended.
The place has since been sealed off as an over sh10b reconstruction project kicks off.