Fire Burns Down Kasubi Tombs / Uganda for the Weekend

Nena is unfortunately leaving on April 1st so we have decided to go back to Kampala for the weekend to go rafting on the Nile one more time.  I have to be in Nairobi the next two weeks for work so am not traveling with the others and am currently in the Nairobi Airport for a 4 hour layover (there is no such thing as a short layover at NBO which is quite a dumpy airport) on my way to Entebbe to meet the others.  It has given me a moment to post about the violence in Kamapla this week after the Kasubi Tombs burned down on Tuesday night.  You may remember that Lucy, Nena, and I visited the tombs on our last trip to Kampala and it is a shame that apparently it burned to the ground.

It isn't clear yet if it was arson or what happened exactly but considering this is UNESCO World Hertitage Site this is kind of a big deal.  There has been sporadic conflict between members of the Bugandan tribe (the tribe that historically ruled all the other 30+ tribes) and the government of President Yoweri Museveni that has been in power for 24 years (He took over after a rebellion in 1986 that deposed Milton Obote who ruled both before AND after Idi Amin...we've got some real winners here).  Anyway check out the following links if you want to learn more:

• NYTimes: Suspicion of Arson at Royal Tombs Fuels Deadly Clashes in Uganda
• AllAfrica.com: Three Killed As President Museveni Forcefully Enters Kasubi Tombs
• AllAfrica.com: Kabaka (Traditional Bugandan King) Cries As Tragedy Is Linked to Kingdom Enemies
• AllAfrica.com: Kasubi Tombs Fire Puzzles Security
• AllAfrica.com: Museveni Orders Probe on Kasubu Fire
• AllAfrica.com: Country Loses Key Heritage Site

Needless to say, I am pretty excited about going to check out the sight on Sunday, and Lucy is still TBD (I am wearing her down).  On our trip this weekend will be Nena, Iris, Josh (new VolCon as of a few weeks ago helping with potentially starting up a tea project in Rwanda), Mia (new Volcon as of last Tuesday who will be taking over for Nena when she leaves), and Dave (VolCon in Kenya helping with financing and other projects).  Josh has generously treated us to the Sheraton in Kampala (nicest hotel in the city) with his rewards points accumulated while consulting so we should be living high on the hog.  Rafting all day Saturday and visiting Kasubi Tombs and Baha'i Temple on Sunday.  I will be flying straight on to Nairobi Sunday night and the others will return to Kigali.