Mugisha (C) with other visitors at the Tombs on Wednesday.
Kampala—The new chairperson of the NRM National Youth Forum, Geofrey Mugisha, visited the restored Kasubi Royal Tombs on Wednesday, calling the UNESCO World Heritage Site “a seat of wisdom and tradition” in a move seen as outreach to the Buganda Kingdom.
Mugisha, voted to lead the youth forum in February, toured the Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga mausoleum with Dr. Jjingo Kabuye of the Save African Children Initiative and a Dutch visitor, Ms. Anne Goossens. The thatched structure houses the graves of four Buganda kings.
Mr. Mugisha (R), Dr. Jjingo, and Anne (C) at the Tombs.
“We cannot talk about leading the country into the future without anchoring our actions in the rich cultural history of our people,” Mugisha told reporters after the tour.
The visit comes amid a historically complex relationship between the ruling NRM party and Buganda since traditional kingdoms were restored in 1993. Mugisha’s trip to the spiritual heart of the kingdom, where Kabaka Mutesa I built his palace in 1882, appears aimed at easing tensions between the party’s youth structures and the monarchy especially after the heavily polarising 2026 elections.
Kasubi Tombs, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, was devastated by fire on March 16, 2010. The blaze destroyed the main burial structure, sparking widespread grief. After 13 years of restoration by the Buganda Kingdom, the Ugandan government, and international partners, UNESCO removed the site from its List of World Heritage in Danger in September 2023.
Dr. Jjingo noted the significance: “After the devastating fire of 2010, many feared that an irreplaceable piece of our history was lost forever. Today, this sacred site stands once again with dignity and authenticity.”
The tombs remain the only Buganda royal burial ground where kings are interred whole. It holds Mutesa I, Mwanga II, Daudi Chwa II, and Sir Edward Mutesa II, Uganda’s first president.
Mugisha appealed to the youth to engage with cultural institutions.
“I encourage every citizen to visit our historical sites. As we encourage tourism, every citizen must become an ambassador,” he said. “We want to work closely with Buganda and other cultural institutions to ensure the youth become active custodians of their heritage.”
He hinted at possible future collaboration on skills development and heritage conservation, though no formal agreements were announced.
For now, the visit stands as a symbolic effort to link youth politics with cultural heritage, using a house of reeds, thatch, and kings as common ground.
About The Author
