Kasubi tombs Panic gripped Kasubi Royal Tombs in Masiro Zone, early this morning when a 49-year-old man was caught trying to scale the sacred tombs with a wooden ladder and a black polythene bag containing a suspicious liquid. According to KMP Deputy Police Spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire, the suspect, identified as Semunya Joseph, was noticed by […]
Kasubi tombs
Panic gripped Kasubi Royal Tombs in Masiro Zone, early this morning when a 49-year-old man was caught trying to scale the sacred tombs with a wooden ladder and a black polythene bag containing a suspicious liquid.
According to KMP Deputy Police Spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire, the suspect, identified as Semunya Joseph, was noticed by alert members of the public as he attempted to climb the perimeter wall.
“He had come prepared. He brought a wooden ladder, and upon searching him, we found a black polythene bag with a liquid suspected to be flammable, along with a lighter and matchboxes.”Owoyesigyire said.
The suspect had already climbed part of the fence when security guards and vigilant locals intercepted him.
“We are taking this very seriously. He is currently at Old Kampala Police Station, where he is being interrogated for alleged attempted arson and criminal trespass.” Owoyesigyire added.
The alarm over today’s incident is intensified by the dark history of Kasubi Tombs. In January 2010, this UNESCO World Heritage site, which houses the graves of four Buganda kings, was destroyed by a devastating fire.
Witnesses at the time described hearing explosions and seeing a mysterious white box moments before the blaze. Others reported a numberless pickup truck driving away as the fire consumed the grass thatched main structure, Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. The cause of the fire remains officially unknown.
Kasubi tombs
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the site in grief, singing the Buganda anthem and praying for the kingdom’s restoration. Police and firefighters faced hostility from the emotional crowd, forcing them to fire shots into the air to control the situation.
Following today’s alarming event, police have intensified security around the tombs. Guards now patrol the perimeter continuously, and the public has been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Residents of Masiro Zone expressed shock and concern over the incident. A local trader, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We never thought something like this could happen again. The tombs are sacred. People here feel very uneasy.”
Semunya’s motives remain unclear. Police investigations are ongoing, and have warned that anyone attempting to compromise the tombs’ security will face strict legal action.
