{UAH} The mystery of the delayed completion of the Kasubi Tombs

http://thespearnews.com/2017/02/18/katikiro-mayiga-mystery-delayed-completion-kasubi-tombs-precedent-ttafali-drive/

JUST INCASE KATTIKIRO MAYIGA'S TERM IS TO EXPIRE: The mystery of the delayed completion of the Kasubi Tombs

It is nearly four years since Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga was appointed Katikkiro of Buganda. His predecessor John Baptist Walusimbi was retired from the delicate office amidst accusations of being soft towards the regime by the young generation most of whom where supporters of Mr Mayiga the then kingdom's Information Minister.

Impeccable sources within the royal circles opined that the Kabaka took the decision to appoint Mr Mayiga because he exuded energy and represented the youthful stock which gave the Kingdom assurance of a future of promise.

On June 24th, 2013, the new Katikkiro delivered his inaugural speech before the Lukiiko. Among the most pressing challenges for the Kingdom then was the rebuilding of the burnt Masiro in Kasubi. The UNESCO-listed site housed tombs of kings of the Buganda region and had been torched at a time when the kingdom had uneasy relations with the Ugandan central government.

The tombs are revered among the Baganda region as a symbol of the continuity of their kingdom. In what was a welcome remark and relief to the Baganda, the Katikkiro pledged that by all means the March rains of the next year(2014) would run off the thatch of a new and rebuilt Masiro. After all to Buganda, Kasubi is more than a spectacular burial ground and shrine for her kings. It is a spiritual umbilical cord that connects the Baganda to Kintu and Nambi, the founders of Buganda. To the non-Muganda, Kasubi was a very important and amazingly beautiful cultural site that fed one's love and admiration for one's African heritage always leaving all in awe of the artistic and architectural genius behind the masterpiece that it was.

The Kasubi fire is of particular significance to Buganda. On beholding the ravages of the inferno that engulfed Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, a most heinous attack against his nation, against his history and against the only pure place that was left in the kingdom, the Kabaka was moved to tears. It seemed like the enemies of Buganda could not resist another opportunity to humiliate Buganda, a kingdom which has been the object and victim of attacks over the years.

The Baganda were mad and the suspect was named and hate for the regime reigned. Around the same period Mr. Museveni appointed a commission to investigate the cause of the fire and who killed the Baganda youth who turned up to extinguish the fire. Little has been heard from the commission save for lone voices like that of Hon John Ken Lukyamuzi who while still in Parliament kept calling on Government to produce the report. Unfortunately, his absence in parliament has deprived Buganda of an audit voice on the inferno. The other pro-Buganda MPs including the known notorious ones; Ssegona,Nambooze,Mpuuga,Muwanga Kivumbi,Kasibante, Ssemujju and the entire Buganda caucus kept quite…what a conspiracy of silence! Did anyone tell them to shut up? The vocal Kattikiro, the Lukiiko and all Buganda institutions have never demanded for the report since then…..Whatever happened,the fire report was forgotten!

The Katikiro roared"Tetujja kwekubagiza (No more lamentation) we are tied of reminding ourselves of the misfortune that has been befalling our Kingdom,we now move to work to take Buganda back to its original glory"

Mayiga's predecessor Walusimbi had resisted the temptation and pressure to fundraise for the reconstruction project much to the impatience of some Baganda and Non-Baganda. However, he had successfully obtained the nod of UNESCO to fully restore this revered piece of antiquity. A generous offer had also come in from President Museveni to a tune of 2 Billion Shillings and from other individuals and entities in terms financial and material.

Mayiga's approach birthed the Etofaali Project, a fundraising drive in Uganda and abroad to which the Katikkiro officially ceded his personal and institutional commitment. Despite raising substantial sums, a red flag was raised by different entities about its efficacy. Mayiga refused to bow to all manner of pressure to end the Project and instead extended the same to other projects like Masengere hence the need to make several other trips to places where he had already been to fundraise.

Kattikiro Mayiga emphasized accountability of the same especially by showing Baganda what was being done physically as opposed to producing written accountabilities. The feeling was Of greatness ;for once every Muganda walked with his/her head high.

Then the Twezimbe group headed by Omukungu Freeman Kiyimba that was assisting the Kattikiro on this project announced that much as it was the tombs they were to build, focus was to be put on the perimeter wall that fence the facility. The wall was built;magnificently and the monthly accountability tours to the tombs went on.

Internally tension and conflict was building between members of the royal clan responsible for Masiro and the Kattikiro 's team. At first disagreements seemed to originate from cultural issues but eventually voices on management of funds were heard. The Kabaka tactfully came in and stopped the monthly tours plus appointing a Committee to oversee the project headed by Owek. Denis Walusimbi, the kingdom's Minister in charge of Culture.

In effect though, we have blown away five years, perhaps the representative equivalent of a whole generation. Children born or raised within the same period have been deprived of a valuable sense of their history and tradition. Besides, numerous questions still linger on what the motive of this gross sense of arson could have been. In restoring the tombs, Buganda has the opportunity to erase most of the uncertainty surrounding the tragedy which we haven't responsibly exploited for the current generation and for posterity.

As the Katikkiro winds up on his first term just incase the Kabaka pleases to retire him, there are silent whispers as people quietly ask what is delaying the project and wether the delay doesn't reward the motive of the perpetrator of the grave sin that was committed against the kingdom?

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Allaah gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him."And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things." (6:17)

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