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65-600: Some of the major buildings there were almost completely destroyed by a fire in March 2010, the cause of which is under investigation. As a result, in July 2010 it was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger . The Buganda Kingdom has vowed to rebuild the tombs of their kings and President Museveni said the national government of Uganda would assist in the restoration of the site. Reconstruction started in 2014, funded by

130-473: A lush vegetation of which the characteristic feature is tenfoot-tall Elephant grass . Ganda villages, sometimes as large as forty to fifty homes, were generally located on hillsides, leaving hilltops and swampy lowlands uninhabited, to be used for crops or pastures. Early Ganda villages surrounded the home of a chief or headman, which provided a common meeting ground for members of the village. The chief collected tribute from his subjects, provided tribute to

195-603: A month’s supply of food, though it generally lived off the countryside. Kabaka Kamanya’s reign in the early nineteenth century was known as one of “restless warfare”. His successor Suna, carried on sixteen major military expeditions in a twenty-six- year reign. Under the Reign of Kabaka Suna II, Buganda's borders were strengthened through the perfection of an army organization which was able to field 50,000 warriors. The Katikiro (prime minister) Apollo Kaggwa speaks of wars being waged regularly every six months. The reign of Mutesa I

260-517: A number of sites that were previously listed as being in danger, but they were later removed from the list after improvements in management and conservation. The Everglades National Park was listed from 1993 to 2007 and again since 2010; the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve was listed from 1996 to 2007 and again since 2011. Both are therefore included in the list of currently listed sites (above). Buganda Buganda

325-608: A prevention scheme for reconstruction of the tombs. Based on the results of the mission, the Japanese government decided to provide project fund cooperation for reconstruction of the tombs, removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger, the setup of an efficient risk prevention scheme and the dispatch of experts in cultural property restoration. World Heritage Sites in Danger The List of World Heritage in Danger

390-470: A property caused by human activities such as logging, pollution, settlement, mining, agriculture and major public works. Ascertained dangers for cultural properties include serious deterioration of materials, structure, ornaments or architectural coherence and the loss of historical authenticity or cultural significance. Potential dangers for both cultural and natural sites include development projects, armed conflicts, insufficient management systems or changes in

455-595: A royal burial ground on his death in 1884. The site is one of 31 royal tombs across the Buganda kingdom since the kingdom was founded in the 13th century. Traditionally, the body of the deceased king was buried in one place, with a separate shrine for the deceased king's jawbone, believed to contain his soul. Unusually, in a break from tradition, the site in Kampala contains the royal tombs of four Kabakas of Buganda: Descendants of these four Kabakas are buried elsewhere on

520-413: A small courtyard and the drum house ( Ndoga-Obukaba ) which houses the royal drums, and then to a second main circular courtyard ( Olugya ) located on the hilltop, surrounded by a reed fence. The main central building ( Muzibu Azaala Mpanga ), some 31 metres (102 ft) in circumference and 7.5 metres (25 ft) high, is located astride the border of the courtyard, on the edge opposite the entrance. It

585-653: Is a Bantu kingdom within Uganda . The kingdom of the Baganda people , Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day East Africa, consisting of Uganda's Central Region , including the Ugandan capital Kampala . The 14 million Baganda (singular Muganda ; often referred to simply by the root word and adjective, Ganda) make up the largest Ugandan region, representing approximately 16% of Uganda's population . Buganda's history includes unification during

650-410: Is a patriotic fiction, one which, however, has proved extremely popular with historians. More systematic studies of oral traditions in other parts of the interlacustrine region are likely to reveal that, with the exception of Kooki and Toro, countries such as Kiziba have never been Babito subdynasties, although they were subject to sporadic raids Before the arrival of Europeans in the region, Buganda

715-681: Is compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) through the World Heritage Committee according to Article 11.4 of the World Heritage Convention, which was established in 1972 to designate and manage World Heritage Sites . Entries in the list are threatened World Heritage Sites for the conservation of which major operations are required and for which "assistance has been requested". The list

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780-534: Is indeed very likely that the Buganda state is much more ancient than has previously been thought. Buganda began as a small kingdom in the north of Lake Victoria in what is now Busiro County. A political structure of some sort, small in scale and mainly ritual in function, may be taken to have existed in northern Busiro, where the ancient shrines are clustered, at a time far beyond the reach of historical tradition...the rituals of Ganda kingship are both too elaborate and too archaic in character to have been evolved within

845-427: Is intended to increase international awareness of the threats and to encourage counteractive measures. Threats to a site can be either proven imminent threats or potential dangers that could have adverse effects on a site. In the case of natural sites, ascertained dangers include the serious decline in the population of an endangered or other valuable species or the deterioration of natural beauty or scientific value of

910-549: Is made by the committee. Financial support from the World Heritage Fund may be allocated by the committee for listed properties. The state of conservation is reviewed on a yearly basis, after which the committee may request additional measures, delete the property from the list if the threats have ceased or consider deletion from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List. Of

975-488: Is made up of 18 political divisions called amasaza in Luganda. These are: The explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley visited Buganda in 1875. At Buganda's capital, Lubaga , Stanley found a well-ordered town surrounding the king's palace, which was situated atop a commanding hill. A tall cane fence surrounded the palace compound, which was filled with grass-roofed houses, meeting halls, and storage buildings. Thronging

1040-469: Is supposed to have ruled in the region from about 400 AD until about 1300 AD. These seven clans are referred to as the Nansangwa, or the indigenous: The Abalasangeye dynasty came to power through the conquests of Kabaka of Buganda ssekabaka Kintu, which are estimated to have occurred sometime between 1200 and 1400 AD. Thirteen clans that are believed to have come with Kintu: The descendants of

1105-596: Is unknown. Being on the Equator it is warm all the year round, but as it is around 4,000 feet above sea-level it is never oppressively hot. And if climate has been kind, geology has been even kinder. Buganda is a land of small green hills, each rising some 200-400 feet above the valley floor. Many are flat-topped; for the land was once a plateau that has mostly crumbled away. As a result, the long slopes are covered with soils that are young and well supplied with plant nutrients. Deep, well structured, not easily eroded, they support

1170-619: The Basimba people (also known as Bashimba) which is a Bisa and Ambo nickname of the Clan of the leopards, the bena Ngo in Zambia, who settled at Mpogo, Sironko District , are among the Ngo Clan group that come along with Kabaka Kato Kintu in his immigration. Around 1370 AD another wave of immigration began, assisted by Kabaka Kimera , who was the son of Omulangira Kalemeera. Kabaka Kimera

1235-482: The Buvuma Islands . Buganda had a projected population of about 11,952,600 people in 2021. As of 2009, there were at least 52 recognized clans within the kingdom, with at least another four making a claim to clan status. Within this group of clans, there are four distinct sub-groups, which reflect historical waves of immigration to Buganda. The oldest clans trace their lineage to Bakiranze Kivebulaya, who

1300-457: The Kabaka , who was the ruler of the kingdom, distributed resources among his subjects, maintained order, and reinforced social solidarity through his decision-making skills. During the late 19th century, Ganda villages became more dispersed as the role of the chiefs diminished in response to political turmoil, population migration, and occasional popular revolts. Buganda's boundaries are marked by

1365-593: The President of Uganda since 1986, the kingdom was officially restored in 1993. Buganda is now a traditional kingdom and so occupies a largely ceremonial role. Since the restoration of the kingdom in 1993, the King of Buganda, known as the Kabaka , has been Muwenda Mutebi II . He is recognized as the 36th Kabaka of Buganda. The current queen, known as the Nnabagereka or Kaddulubale is Queen Sylvia Nagginda . It

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1430-583: The Tanzanian border in Lake Victoria (Lake Nnalubaale) to the south, the River Nile (River Kiira) to the east, Lake Kyoga to the north, Ankole to the west and River Kafu to the northwest. Buganda currently is divided into 26 districts as of 2021. These are: Ganda oral history reveals that Buganda was distinct and of at least equal antiquity to that of its historical rival, Kitara . It

1495-585: The 13th century by the first king Kato Kintu , the founder of Buganda's Kintu Dynasty, Buganda grew to become one of the largest and most powerful states in East Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. During the Scramble for Africa , and following unsuccessful attempts to retain its independence against British imperialism , Buganda became the center of the Uganda Protectorate in 1884;

1560-570: The Kabaka, there were three types of chief: bakungu (administrative) chiefs, who were appointed directly by the Kabaka; traditional bataka chieftains; and batongole chiefs, who served as representatives of the Kabaka, charged with "maintaining internal security, supervising royal estates and military duties". The 1900 agreement, however, greatly enhanced the power of the Lukiiko (which had previously been simply an advisory council) at

1625-507: The List of World Heritage in Danger is perceived by some states as a black list and according to Christina Cameron , Professor at the School of Architecture, Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, University of Montreal, has been used as political tool to get the attention of States Parties. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) notes that UNESCO has referenced the List of World Heritage in Danger (without actually listing

1690-541: The Ugandan government in 1966. In September 2009, some members of the minority Banyala ethnic group, led by the recently retired UPDF Captain Isabanyala Baker Kimeze , announced that Bugerere had seceded from the Kingdom of Buganda. The Banyala make up 0.09% of the population of Uganda and 13% of the population of the district, Kayunga, which they claimed to be leading into secession. Because of

1755-466: The birthplace of Jesus . In some cases, danger listing has sparked conservation efforts and prompted the release of funds, resulting in a positive development for sites such as the Galápagos Islands and Yellowstone National Park , both of which have subsequently been removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Despite this, the list itself and UNESCO's implementation of it have been

1820-556: The capital city of Kampala . Forces used tear gas to disperse rioters of the Baganda ethnic group. The destruction occurred in the midst of an awkward relationship between the government of Uganda and the Buganda kingdom, particularly in light of the September 2009 riots. Ahead of these riots, the king of Buganda Ronald Mutebi Mwenda was stopped from touring parts of his kingdom, and several journalists who were allegedly sympathetic to

1885-420: The capital to all corners of the kingdom. The importance of these rapid means of communication in what the anthropologist Audrey Richards has called a "pedestrian state", especially one whose terrain is covered with dense vegetation and contains innumerable papyrus swamps and streams, is evident. They enabled the king and his officials at the capital to maintain close political contact even with outlying parts of

1950-410: The crew of 50 to 100). These vessels were organized into a squadron under a leader. When engaged in battle, the paddlers squatted on the sides of the canoes while the warriors stood upright holding spears and shields. In 1878, Mutesa sent a fleet to Ukerewe Island , where it helped the local ruler, Lukonge put down a rebellion. The next year, the Baganda mounted successful slave raids against Busoga and

2015-528: The deceased kabaka's widows, who tend the family graves. Their houses are traditionally constructed of wattle and daub with straw thatched roofs, although over time some were rebuilt with bricks and metal roofs added, and tombs for royal relations. It is also the home of members of the royal family, and royal officials including the Nalinya (spiritual guardian), her deputy the Lubuga (responsible for coordinating

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2080-414: The expense of the Kabaka. While Buganda retained self-government, as one part of the larger Uganda Protectorate, it would henceforth be subject to formal British overrule. The Buganda Agreement of 1955 continued the transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy. During Uganda independence, the constitutional position of Buganda (and the degree to which it would be able to exercise self-government)

2145-673: The farming on the site) and her administrative assistant the Katikkiro . It is also a centre for the traditional manufacture and decoration of bark cloth by the Ngo clan and for traditional thatching techniques of the Ngeye clan. The building was maintained and managed by the Buganda Kingdom, the largest of the four ancient kingdoms of Uganda, until it was abolished by Prime Minister (then President) Milton Obote in 1966, and again after it

2210-463: The fire is as yet unknown. The Buganda kingdom has promised to conduct independent investigations into the fire, alongside the national police force. John Bosco Walusimbi, Prime Minister of the Buganda kingdom , stated on 17 March: The kingdom is in mourning. There are no words to describe the loss occasioned by this most callous act. The remains of the kabakas are intact, according to Walusimbi, as

2275-445: The focus of criticism. In particular, States Parties and other stakeholders of World Heritage Sites have questioned the authority of the committee to declare a site in danger without their consent. Until 1992, when UNESCO set a precedent by placing several sites on the danger list against their wishes, States Parties would have submitted a programme of corrective measures before a site could be listed. Instead of being used as intended,

2340-533: The government of Japan. The World Heritage Site comprises around 26 hectares (64 acres) on the Kasubi hill in the city of Kampala , about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northwest of the city centre. Most of the site is open agricultural land that is farmed using traditional techniques. One corner contains a royal palace built in 1882 by Muteesa I , the 35th Kabaka of Buganda, to replace a palace built by his built by his father, Ssuuna II in 1820. The new palace became

2405-486: The grounds were foreign ambassadors seeking audiences, chiefs going to the royal advisory council, messengers running errands, and a corps of young pages. He estimated the population of the kingdom at 2,000,000 Population estimates for Kampala, the capital of Buganda, at the time of Kabaka Mutesa, in 1862, run as high as 77,000. Wrigley thinks that Kampala was probably the largest agglomeration of population in interior Africa, and that it had certain urban characteristics by

2470-569: The headwaters of the Nile in 1862. They found a highly organized political system. Buganda was colonized by the British and made a protectorate of the United Kingdom in 1884. The move towards independence reached a climax when the Lukiiko, the parliament of Buganda, declared independence on 8 October 1960 and requested that the British protectorate be terminated. While in exile, Mwanga II

2535-577: The inner sanctum of the tombs was protected from total destruction. On 17 March 2010, His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda , Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II , and the President of Uganda , Yoweri Museveni , visited the site of the tombs. Hundreds of people have also travelled to the site to help salvage any remains. Riots broke out during the President's visit. Security forces shot dead two (some reports say three) rioters and five were reportedly injured. The Ugandan soldiers and police also clashed with rioters in

2600-470: The kingdom and the rioters were arrested and are awaiting trial. The administration of the Buganda Kingdom has vowed (tofaali) to rebuild the tombs and President Museveni said the national government would assist in the restoration. A commission was set up to determine the cause of the fire and the civilian deaths in the following days. This commission handed over a report to the Ugandan government in March 2011, but as of April 2012 it had not been released to

2665-449: The kingdom, all of which could easily be reached by a runner within a day or two. Buganda's excellent means of communication enabled the Kabaka "to maintain active control over a territory one quarter the size of England without written communication and with no means of travel on land beyond the human foot" When John Hanning Speke visited Buganda in 1862, he described the kingdom's roads as being "as long as our coach-roads, cut through

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2730-559: The kingdom. Buganda is a constitutional monarchy . The current Head of State is the Kabaka , Muwenda Mutebi II who has reigned since the restoration of the kingdom in 1993. The Head of Government is the Katikkiro (Prime Minister) Charles Mayiga , who was appointed by the Kabaka in 2013. The Parliament of Buganda is the Lukiiko . Prior to the Buganda Agreement of 1900 , Buganda was an almost absolute monarchy . Under

2795-564: The lake, and outlying areas of the Kingdom along the lake shore, as well as the islands. The island chiefs had to maintain a great fleet of canoes ready for state service. The Mamba clan specialized in water transport and provided the kingdom’s overall “chief of canoes.” messages were sent by "runners of athletic renown". These messengers were called bakayungirizi and were trained from an early age in prolonged, rapid marches, moving night and day with only short breaks; king Mutesa had many in his service. The use of talking drums to spread messages

2860-472: The legal protective status of the properties. In the case of cultural sites, gradual changes due to geology, climate or environment can also be potential dangers. Before a property is inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, its condition is assessed and a potential programme for corrective measures is developed in cooperation with the State Party involved. The final decision about inscription

2925-844: The listed sites are located in the Arab States, 14 in Africa, 6 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 6 in Asia and the Pacific, and 7 in Europe and North America. The majority of the endangered natural sites (11) are located in Africa. The list encompasses sites that have been identified as facing threats to their integrity, which could stem from natural disasters, armed conflict, neglect, pollution, unsustainable tourism, or other dangers. Among

2990-406: The long grasses, straight over the hills and down through the woods in the dells—a strange contrast to the wretched tracks in all the adjacent countries." water transport was very important for Buganda and greatly helped in the kingdom's expansion via its fleet of war canoes. Water transport also provided a means of political communication between the capital, which was usually sited fairly close to

3055-729: The name Uganda, the Swahili term for Buganda, was adopted by British officials. Under British rule, many Baganda acquired status as colonial administrators, and Buganda became a major producer of cotton and coffee . Following Uganda's independence in 1962, the kingdom was abolished by Uganda's first Prime Minister Dr Apollo Milton Obote in 1966, declaring Uganda a republic. Following years of disturbance caused by Obote and dictator Field Marshall Idi Amin Dada , as well as several years of internal divisions among Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement under Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa ,

3120-625: The past few centuries. Ganda oral history has no mention of the Chwezi and According to the historian Christopher Wrigley, "It is unlikely that Buganda was fully integrated into the system that was probably not called Kitara . Its language is distinct from ' Rutara ', and the directors of the Ntusi and Biggo systems would not have had much interest in a land that was not really suited to cattle-rearing". Some traditions from Buganda's historical enemy Bunyoro claim (likely propaganda in order to increase

3185-639: The prestige of their own state) that their "first Bito first king allotted Buganda to his son" or supposed twin brother. The kings of Buganda do not claim to be Bito and the Ganda do not use the Luo Empaako names. The Baganda regarded the Banyoro as "inferior Foreigners". studies of the oral traditions of, for instance, Buganda strongly suggest that the Kinyoro claim that Buganda was once a Babito subdynasty

3250-678: The public. As of December 2012, a plan to restore the Kasubi tombs had been launched with the help of foreign aid. The Buganda government has now put emphasis on security measures during the restoration that will restrict entry to the tombs. In response to the incident, a mission was dispatched through the UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage to create

3315-407: The resulting tensions, the government of Uganda prevented the Kabaka of Buganda from traveling to Bugerere, leading to riots in the capital Kampala and its neighboring districts. Thirty were killed in what came to be known as the Buganda riots. On July 31, 2023, Buganda unveiled portraits of its former Kings (bassekabaka) based on oral narrations and written histories dating back to the founding of

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3380-403: The sacred spaces within, separated by reed partitions, with bark cloth decorations, and mementos of the kabakas. The tombs are housed in a sacred forest ( Kibira ) within, concealed from public view by a barkcloth curtain. The floor is covered by lemon grass and palm leaf mats. The courtyard is also bordered by several buildings of traditional construction, including several "wives houses" for

3445-474: The site) in a number of cases where the threat could be easily addressed by the State Party. The Union also argues that keeping a site listed as endangered over a long period is questionable and that other mechanisms for conservation should be sought in these cases. As of April 2024 , there are 56 entries (16 natural, 40 cultural) on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Arranged by the UNESCO regions, 23 of

3510-476: The site. The border of the ceremonial site were established in 1882 on Kasubi Hill, also known as the Ssekabaka's Tombs. The borders are still marked with bark cloth trees ( Ficus natalensis ), which have protected it from the low-rise residential development that now surround the site on all sides. The main ceremonial area is located to the northwest of the wider site. A gatehouse ( Bujjabukula ) leads to

3575-1044: The sites, the impacts of armed conflict are evident in countries like Syria, with several sites including the Ancient City of Aleppo and the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria marked as endangered due to the Syrian Civil War. In Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo sees multiple listings due to threats like military conflict and environmental degradation affecting its national parks. Download coordinates as: 19°35′1″S 65°45′11″W  /  19.58361°S 65.75306°W  / -19.58361; -65.75306 [REDACTED]   Tanzania , 9°0′0″S 37°24′0″E  /  9.00000°S 37.40000°E  / -9.00000; 37.40000 Download coordinates as: There are

3640-763: The three former UNESCO World Heritage Sites , the Dresden Elbe Valley and the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City were delisted after placement on the List of World Heritage in Danger while the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was directly delisted. Some sites have been designated as World Heritage Sites and World Heritage in Danger in the same year, such as the Church of the Nativity , traditionally considered to be

3705-410: The time Mutesa had ascended the throne Kampala, the capital, was the heart of the Ganda state and the center of the redistributive network that encompassed it. As a rule, Ganda roads were remarkably straight, cutting over the crests of hills and through valleys, forests, swamps and rivers. Early visitors to Buganda describe the well-planned and carefully maintained system of roads, which radiated from

3770-561: Was a major issue. Discussions as part of the Uganda Relationships Commission resulted in the Buganda Agreement of 1961 and the first Constitution of Uganda (1962), as part of which Buganda would be able to exercise a high degree of autonomy. This position was reversed during 1966–67, however, before the Kabakaship and Lukiiko were disestablished altogether in 1967 before being restored in 1993. Buganda

3835-614: Was a rich country, the most favoured part of the Lakeland, which is the most favoured part of Africa. Thanks to the great inland sea that the Ganda call Nalubaale, 'Mother of the gods', it enjoys a very reliable supply of rain. There are two official seasons of precipitation, the long rains from March through June and the shorter but fiercer rains, often accompanied by thunderstorms of extraordinary violence, in October-November; but few months are wholly rainless and prolonged drought

3900-482: Was an expanding, "embryonic empire". It built fleets of war canoes from the 1840s to take control of Lake Victoria and the surrounding regions and subjugated several weaker peoples. These subject peoples were then exploited for cheap labor. The first Europeans to enter the Kingdom of Buganda were British explorers John Hanning Speke and Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton while searching for

3965-457: Was originally constructed from wooden poles, reed wattle and daub , topped by a thick thatched dome, with straw resting on 52 rings of palm fronds (representing the 52 traditional clans of the Baganda people). Modern building materials were introduced in the last major renovation in 1938 by Kabaka Mutesa II of Buganda , including a steel structure, concrete columns, and bricks, largely concealed behind traditional materials. A low wide arch leads to

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4030-476: Was received into the Anglican Church and was baptized with the name of Danieri (Daniel). He spent the rest of his life in exile. He died in 1903, at 35 years of age. In 2010 his remains were repatriated and buried at Kasubi. On 24 July 1993, the monarchy of Buganda was restored when Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II was crowned king. Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II was the son of King 'Freddy', who had been deposed by

4095-503: Was reinstated by President Museveni in 1993. It became a protected site under Uganda law in 1972, and the land is registered in the name of the Kabaka behalf of the Kingdom. The site remains an important spiritual and political site for the Baganda people. In 2001, the Kasubi Tombs were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On 16 March 2010, at about 8.30 pm local time, the Kasubi tombs were destroyed by fire. The cause of

4160-476: Was the zenith of Ganda military power. Under Mutesa, there were sixty-six wars in twenty-eight years. In the 1890s, raiding parties of up to 20,000 Baganda were mobilized to plunder the rival kingdom of Bunyoro. The explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley visited Buganda in 1875 and provided an estimate of Buganda troop strength. Stanley counted 125,000 troops and a fleet of war canoes. Baganda war canoes could carry 60 to 100 warriors (not including

4225-428: Was widespread in Buganda. Buganda was described as a "warefare state", with warefare being "the main activity which dominated the lives of most male Ganda". The Baganda army consisted of district levies and each was headed by a royal-appointed chief or governor and remained the basic unit of military organization. All districts were expected to provide soldiers when called by the king. An army usually carried at least

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