Africa-Press – Uganda. The Minister of Heritage, Palaces, Tombs, Tourism and Security in the Buganda Kingdom, Anthony Wamala, has convened a strategic meeting with the Bannaalinnya, custodians of the royal tombs of former Kabakas, aimed at reinforcing leadership structures, protecting ancestral land, and promoting sustainable development.
The engagement, held at the Kingdom’s Tourism Board offices in Mengo on Tuesday, brought together leaders responsible for safeguarding the royal burial grounds to deliberate on challenges affecting the sites and explore practical solutions.
Addressing the custodians, Wamala urged them to ensure firm and capable leadership within their areas of stewardship.
“You must ensure that leadership in the tomb sites is firm and capable of confronting the challenges within your jurisdictions,” he said, emphasizing unity and proactive governance.
The minister also called upon the Bannaalinnya to mobilize descendants of the Kabakas buried at the respective sites, encouraging them to reconnect with their heritage and participate in development initiatives on ancestral land.
“Many of our descendants have distanced themselves from their roots, often because they lack knowledge about their clans. It is your responsibility to encourage them to return home and take part in development programs concerning their land,” Wamala added.
He stressed the importance of convening regular trustees’ meetings to safeguard the burial grounds from encroachment and illegal land sales.
“We must convene trustees and put in place clear resolutions on what activities can be undertaken on this land so that it generates income for its own development,” he said.
Wamala revealed that the Kingdom has begun a structured plan to appoint official trustees for all royal tomb lands as a protective measure.
“The Kingdom has begun the process of installing trustees on all tomb lands to prevent individuals from fraudulently selling this property,” he noted.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Bannaalinnya Council, Nnaalinnya Beatrice Namikka, thanked the minister for organizing the engagement, describing it as timely and necessary.
“This meeting will help us overcome the challenges and misunderstandings affecting the royal tombs,” she said, adding that the dialogue would strengthen coordination among custodians.
The engagement underscores the Buganda Kingdom’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, reinforcing traditional leadership, and ensuring sustainable management of historic royal sites for future generations.
