Police have arrested a man accused of attempting to set fire to the Kasubi Royal Tombs, one of Buganda’s most sacred cultural landmarks.
The suspect, identified as Joseph Ssebunya, a resident of Nakulabye in Masiiro Zone, was intercepted in the early hours of the morning — around 3am — after reportedly placing a ladder against the fence of the site.
According to police, Ssebunya was found carrying a one-litre bottle of petrol and a box of matches hidden in a black polythene bag.
Residents who spotted him raised an alarm and attempted to mob him before soldiers arrived to rescue and detain him.
Officers from Old Kampala Police Station, led by DPC Francis Liga, later visited the scene, reenacted the suspect’s movements, and took him into custody for questioning.
Police say the suspect appeared confused and gave inconsistent statements about his intentions and the origin of the petrol. Investigations are underway to establish whether he acted alone or was working under instructions.
This incident comes amid heightened security around the Kasubi Tombs, which were destroyed by fire in March 2010, an event that remains one of Uganda’s most painful cultural tragedies.
The blaze completely razed Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main thatched mausoleum where four Buganda kings were buried, sparking widespread grief across the kingdom and the nation.
Reconstruction of the site is now in its final stages, and authorities have tightened surveillance following previous cases of vandalism and attempted arson.
