Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
KASUBI ROYAL TOMBS INFERNO IN PICTURES
PEOPLE SHOT DEAD IN KASUBI INFERNO SAGGA
More than three people have reportedly been shot dead and many injured following a scuffle with the military police at the Kasubi Tombs, which were destroyed last night by a fire.
This was after Military police can at Kasubi in a Mini bus {white in Colour} can out and started shooting directly to the people.
According to the sources [WBS TV live video], Kababa's young brother was at the scene and said "tuli mukunyolwa naye amajje gatukuba masasi, nange mponedde watono kuba mbadde nina okwekweka mubitoke." meaning " we're in trying times but Military police has come and shot people any how. I also survived b'se i had to hide myself behind banana plantations."
Six other are said to be injured and admitted at Mulago Hospital.
Major Felix Kulaigye, the army spokesman confirmed the deaths to our reporter and said investigations into the shooting have started.
More than Two
people have been confirmed dead while about six are nursing injuries at
Mulago Hospital after they were shot by the military at Kasubi Tombs
earlier today.
The soldiers opened fire after a crowd
of people tried to block president Museveni's convoy from accessing the
cultural site that burnt to ashes on Tuesday night.
Major
Felix Kulaigye, the army spokesman confirmed the deaths to our reporters and said investigations into the shooting have started. "The
loss of the tombs was regrettable but the violence that resulted in the
death of these people was completely uncalled for and should have
been avoided," Kulayigye told Dance 256.
BUGANDA ROYAL TOMBS AT KASUBI INFERNO
The historic Kasubi Tombs last night went up in flames,
engulfing the main building housing the mausoleums of four former
Buganda kings (Basekabakas).
Hundreds of Kingdom subjects,
some prostrating, crying and screaming, gathered in front of the embers.
The grass-thatched hut was completely destroyed within minutes, leaving
the skeletal brick wall.
The burial grounds, revered by the Baganda, are 128 years old.
The burial grounds, revered by the Baganda, are 128 years old.
Witnesses
Witnesses said the blaze started around 8:30pm. One woman, Lydia Nabambulide, said she heard “a loud explosion” behind the tombs, just before the fire began.
Witnesses said the blaze started around 8:30pm. One woman, Lydia Nabambulide, said she heard “a loud explosion” behind the tombs, just before the fire began.
She said: “I saw a white box wrapped in
something like bark cloth and it looked strange.”
A
white numberless pickup truck reportedly emerged from the tombs shortly
after the fire broke out, Mr Andrew Jjuko said, quoting Boda Boda men
who were at the scene.
Other reports suggested that the
fleeing man shot in the air to scare away riders in his pursuit.
Mr
Charles Peter Mayiga, the Buganda information minister, said they were
puzzled by the mysterious fire outbreak and “it is a dark moment for the
kingdom.”
“We don’t know what is really going on in
the kingdom,” he said.
Earlier, an agitated crowd chased away Police fire fighters who pulled up to quell the fire around 9:20pm.
Earlier, an agitated crowd chased away Police fire fighters who pulled up to quell the fire around 9:20pm.
Security
operatives who surrounded the tombs shot several times in the air to
force back a charged mass of people that advanced towards the firemen.
The light rain at the time did nothing to tame the flames.
Buganda
Katikkiro, John Baptist Walusimbi, arrived shortly after 10pm and
looked distraught as he inspected the extent of damage to the Muzibu
Azaala Mpanga.
He was quickly surrounded by his
subjects, many prostrating in the wet soil. They burst into singing the
"Buganda anthem" as one sounded the kingdom’s big drum, to mobilise more
of the subjects.
The cause of the fire is yet to be
established, police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba told reporters at
11:40pm.
Mr Musa Sevume, suspecting arson, said,
“Buganda is here and it will stay. Buganda is more than just the tombs.
We will replace them.”
A kingdom subject, who only identified himself as Jacob, said amid sobs that the tombs are, “part of us and they should at least leave history alone.”
A kingdom subject, who only identified himself as Jacob, said amid sobs that the tombs are, “part of us and they should at least leave history alone.”
The Kasubi
tombs, some four kilometers west of Kampala city, are a Unesco-certified
World Heritage site that brings in millions of shillings to Buganda
kingdom through tourism.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started from behind the huts. The main hut
was completely destroyed as the surging crowd wailed in disbelief,
hampering further the Police efforts to stop the inferno from spreading.
The Police said they could not tell the extent of the damage to the world famous heritage site since they were unable to access it, but it was clear that the huts were reduced to ash.
Situated on a hill within Kampala, the site is an active religious place in Buganda Kingdom.
As a burial ground for four kings, it is a religious centre for the royal family, a place where the Kabaka and his representatives frequently carry out important rituals.
It is also an outstanding example of traditional Ganda architecture and an exceptional testimony of the living Ganda traditions.
For Uganda, the site represents an important symbol of its history and culture. The tombs were listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001.
The Baganda date their political civilisation back to the 13th Century AD. Their first Kabaka was Kintu. He is said to have come with his wife Nambi, whose hand he won by performing heroic deeds at the command of her father Gulu.
The first Kabaka to be buried at Kasubi tombs was Muteesa I, the 35th king.
Buganda’s kings built their palaces on strategic hills to control the major roads to the palace and find easy ways to escape in case of an invasion or rebellion.
Each Kabaka was buried at a separate site in a royal shrine to house his jaw bone, which was believed to contain his spirit.
Muteesa 1 was born around 1835 and was crowned in 1856. He established his palace at Kasubi in 1882, as did his father, Kabaka Suuna 11.
His son Daudi Chwa succeeded him in 1897. Chwa died in 1939 and he was also buried at Kasubi Tombs with his two predecessors.
Chwa was succeeded by his son Edward Muteesa 11. When Uganda attained independence from the British on October 9, 1962, Muteesa II became the constitutional president of Uganda.
However, Apollo Milton Obote stormed his palaces in May 1966 and forced him into exile in England. He died in 1969 in London and his remains were brought back and buried at Kasubi in 1971.
It is not known how the tombs will be rebuilt following the fire last night.
The Police were alerted about the fire at 8:50pm. However, attempts by the fire brigade to reach the site were hampered by a riotous crowd.
“We could not access the scene because of the rioters, so we could not save the tombs,” Simon Musoke, the chief fire officer, explained.
Musoke said three fire trucks were damaged and a fire fighter injured by the rioters.
Details about the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage were scanty.
Last evening, at least two military mambas were seen heading to the site.
The Police said they could not tell the extent of the damage to the world famous heritage site since they were unable to access it, but it was clear that the huts were reduced to ash.
Situated on a hill within Kampala, the site is an active religious place in Buganda Kingdom.
As a burial ground for four kings, it is a religious centre for the royal family, a place where the Kabaka and his representatives frequently carry out important rituals.
It is also an outstanding example of traditional Ganda architecture and an exceptional testimony of the living Ganda traditions.
For Uganda, the site represents an important symbol of its history and culture. The tombs were listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001.
The Baganda date their political civilisation back to the 13th Century AD. Their first Kabaka was Kintu. He is said to have come with his wife Nambi, whose hand he won by performing heroic deeds at the command of her father Gulu.
The first Kabaka to be buried at Kasubi tombs was Muteesa I, the 35th king.
Buganda’s kings built their palaces on strategic hills to control the major roads to the palace and find easy ways to escape in case of an invasion or rebellion.
Each Kabaka was buried at a separate site in a royal shrine to house his jaw bone, which was believed to contain his spirit.
Muteesa 1 was born around 1835 and was crowned in 1856. He established his palace at Kasubi in 1882, as did his father, Kabaka Suuna 11.
His son Daudi Chwa succeeded him in 1897. Chwa died in 1939 and he was also buried at Kasubi Tombs with his two predecessors.
Chwa was succeeded by his son Edward Muteesa 11. When Uganda attained independence from the British on October 9, 1962, Muteesa II became the constitutional president of Uganda.
However, Apollo Milton Obote stormed his palaces in May 1966 and forced him into exile in England. He died in 1969 in London and his remains were brought back and buried at Kasubi in 1971.
It is not known how the tombs will be rebuilt following the fire last night.
The Police were alerted about the fire at 8:50pm. However, attempts by the fire brigade to reach the site were hampered by a riotous crowd.
“We could not access the scene because of the rioters, so we could not save the tombs,” Simon Musoke, the chief fire officer, explained.
Musoke said three fire trucks were damaged and a fire fighter injured by the rioters.
Details about the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage were scanty.
Last evening, at least two military mambas were seen heading to the site.
KABAKA's BURIED AT THE ROYAL TOMBS include;
Daudi Chwa II (1896-1939)
Muteesa I (1835-1884)
Basamula Mwanga II
(1867-1903)
Daudi Chwa II (1896-1939)
Fredrick Walugembe
Muteesa II (1924-1969)
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