27/04/2026
Kasubi Tombs to reopen after 15 years of restoring traditional craftsmanship
A worthwhile in-depth read by CNN Travel, for anyone interested in Uganda’s cultural heritage beyond the usual highlights. The article features the completion of the restoration of the Kasubi Tombs in Kampala: the royal burial site of the Buganda Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Although the tombs are now open to visitors again, the formal reopening is still to come. The entrance remains covered by a layer of thatch, which will be cut away during a traditional re-opening ceremony.
The 15-year restoration following the 2010 fire has been a major milestone, and a deeply complex process. The Kasubi Tombs are built with traditional materials and techniques, including thatch, reeds, wood, wattle and daub. Inside, the vast roof contains 52 concentric rings woven from grass, each representing a clan of the Buganda Kingdom.
That symbolism also shaped the restoration itself. The article highlights how different clans carry different responsibilities within the site, meaning the recovery process had to respect not only architectural tradition, but also the cultural roles, rituals and responsibilities connected to the tombs.
Equally important was protecting the spiritual meaning of the site. Leading architect Jonathan Nsubuga shared with CNN: “My job was to present a space for the spirits to come up and to give them space to resonate with our thought process.”
From the fire until 2023, the Kasubi Tombs were listed as a World Heritage Site 'in Danger'. Their restoration is is as much about reopening a landmark, as it is about preserving living heritage for future generations.
Read the full CNN Travel article here:
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/kasubi-tombs-ancient-kingdom-uganda?Date=20260423&Profile=CNN
