Kasubi tombs renovation complete, public warned on passport middlemen

13 December 2025, 11:06 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Katikiro of Buganda Kingdom, Charles Peter Mayiga, has announced the completion of renovation works at the Kasubi Tombs, more than a decade after a fire gutted the main cultural structure. Mayiga made the announcement yesterday while addressing journalists and invited guests during a special event held at the tombs in Lubaga North Division.

The fire destroyed the most significant building at the site, Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, prompting the kingdom to embark on a long and careful restoration process. According to the Katikiro, the renovation has now been concluded, although a few minor items remain before the site can be fully opened to the public and tourists.

“I want to take this opportunity to announce to the kingdom that the renovation work has been completed today. We thank the Buganda Kingdom, the Government of Uganda, the Government of Japan and everyone who contributed to restoring this historical site,” Mayiga said. He explained that the work took longer than expected due to strict cultural norms that had to be followed, especially in rebuilding Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, as well as funding constraints.

Mayiga revealed that more than Shs13 billion was spent on the renovation, noting that the kingdom had to proceed cautiously to ensure the work met both cultural requirements and present-day conditions. He added that the remaining items to be installed include the leopard belonging to Kabaka Muteesa I, his table, and a lamp that was gifted to him by Queen Victoria of England, whom the Katikiro said the late king wished to marry.

Kasubi Tombs are the burial grounds of several Buganda kings and are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to their cultural and historical significance.

Engineer Sebiranda Masood of S and S, based in Kalerwe, Kampala, congratulated the Buganda Kingdom on the milestone. He said the completion of the tombs would help the kingdom generate revenue through tourism, which could support various programs, including helping the needy. He also thanked the central government, led by President Yoweri Museveni, for its contribution to the restoration efforts.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Mundeyi, used the same occasion to caution Ugandans against using middlemen when applying for passports. He urged applicants to use the ministry’s official website, warning that middlemen often take money without delivering services.

Mundeyi said the government has acquired mobile machines that can be taken to different locations to capture passport details for people who are unable to travel to the ministry offices, such as patients in hospitals, VIPs, and Ugandans living abroad, including those in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. He emphasized that this service is strictly meant for such categories of people.

He also thanked stakeholders for their support to the ministry since the beginning of the year and called on applicants whose passports are ready to collect them, revealing that more than 30,000 passports are currently uncollected. On concerns raised by traders of perishable goods who spend long hours at border points, Mundeyi said the matter falls under the mandate of the Uganda Revenue Authority.