The Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Mutebi is overcome by emotion after inspecting the burnt Kasubi tombs in 2010.

Bwanika Cultural House, a cultural site for the coronation of the Baganda kings in Uganda, has been razed to the ground. The site, at Naggalabi, Buddo in Wakiso District, just outside the capital Kampala on the Kampala-Masaka Road, was gutted by fire in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

The site is of great significance to the Buganda Kingdom because it’s where every king in Buganda is crowned to the throne, a purpose it has served for the last 700 years. It is also considered as the historic heart of Buganda as all the history of the Kingdom at the dawn of the 14th century rotates around it. It is where Kintu defeated his rival brother Bemba and declared himself the first king (Kabaka) of Buganda, creating the historical attachment that led to all the coronations of the Kabakas of Buganda being conducted here.

The fires come at a time when the Kingdom has just concluded celebrations to mark 19 years since Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II was crowned as Kabaka of Buganda at Naggalabi in 1993. The fire also follows that which took place on 16th March 2010. Kasubi Royal Tombs were set ablaze by unknown people and government is yet to release the report on what caused the fire which destroyed the most significant cultural site of the Kingdom where four past kings lie.

To this day, no one has been brought to book for this blaze. Visiting Kasubi tombs after it was set ablaze, Kabaka Mutebi was photographed wiping away tears as they showed him around. His father, Ssekabaka Edward Luwangula Muteesa II is buried there. The cause of the fire to both blazes is yet to be known.