Baagalayaze and Kanyange Tombs

Nnamasole Baagalayaze Tombs

This Tomb is the burial site of Nnamasole Baagalayaze, the wife of Mutesa I and mother of one of Buganda’s greatest Kings-Kabaka Mwanga II who passed away in 1916 and she was said to be one of the famous and hardworking women of the time due to the important position she held between two great and outstanding Kings of Buganda Kingdom. Not only that, she was respected by the local community as a generous woman and currently, the Tombs and its surrounding has become a significant tourist and cultural center that contributes to the celebration of the history and people of the Kingdom and tourists who explore the site are treated to invigorating traditional performances in form of dance and music, listening to interesting stories and legends about the Kingdom and Kings as well as getting involved in art and craft making. This cultural center is today seen as a place of celebration, hope and learning.

Baagalayaze was the name used by then Queen Nnamasole Abisagi Nakatya, the mother to a famous King of Buganda-Kabaka Mwanga II who was known for ordering the killing of Uganda Martyrs. According to caretakers, she acquired the name after helping her husband-Kabaka Mutesa I to write a letter inviting Christian Missionaries to the Kingdom. Unlike her ruthless son, she was kind-hearted and welcoming towards religion and to prove that, she have land for construction of Anglican and catholic churches as well as Mosques on top of supporting several brick making enterprises, schools and hospitals.

Besides just exploring the Tombs, visitors that visit this site are treated to vibrant traditional performances (in form of music, dance and drama), get the chance to listen to come of the flamboyant stories about Buganda Kingdom and try making arts and crafts.

• How to get there?

Nnamasole Baagalayaze Tombs are found in Mpererwe in Busiro County, approximately 15 kilometers/30mminutes drive from the City Center along the Kampala-Gayaza Road, where you will turn left onto the tarmac road at Perverse Trading Center adjacent to the big Mvule tree. This leads you to the Royal Tombs that are only 1 kilometer away. Other cultural sites in Buganda Kingdom that shouldn’t miss on your list during cultural tours include Naggalabi Buddo Coronation site, Wamala Royal Tomb, the Kasubi Royal Tombs, Nnamasole Kanyange Tombs and many others.

Therefore, as part of your cultural tour in Uganda, you can visit the Nnamasole Baagalayaze Tombs, the site where the mother of Kabaka Mwanga II who died in 1916 was laid to rest. A visit to this place will introduce you to the life of one of Buganda’s most respected and generous women but as a way of celebrating the history and people of the Kingdom

Nnamasole Kanyange Tombs?

Cultural sites are one of the popular places you can explore during your cultural trip in Uganda and one of the important ones to visit is the Nnamasole Kanyange Tombs found in Buganda Kingdom, Central Uganda.

This Tomb is nestled on the peak of Kagoma Hill adjacent to the Wamala Royal Tombs along the Kagoma-Kawempe road, about 30 minutes from the Heart of Kampala City, the Capital of Uganda and is the place where the mother of Ssekabaka (former King) Suuna II who served from 1832 to 1856 was laid to rest. Nnamasole is the name given to the mother of the King in Buganda Kingdom but Kanyange was born to Sambwa Katende (from Bukunja, Kyaggwe in Mukono) as the fourth of seven children but was taken to the Palace Ssekabaka Kamanya’s wife where she gave birth to Suuna.

Kabaka Suuna, who ascended on the throne at 12 years served as the 29^th King of Buganda and was considered one of the most handsome Kings who took after his mother’s (Nnamasole Nakkazi Kanyange) beauty. Interestingly, she was said to be one of the prettiest, most admired and respected women at the time in Buganda Kingdom and was from Mamba Clan. Interestingly, Kabaka Suuna was one of the Kings that loved their mothers so much and his Tomb is not very far from his mother’s, hence showing a unique connection between mother and son forever. There is also a wonderful walk trail that leads to Wamala Tombs (Suuna’s burial place) and through this route, you will be able to trace the steps that Nnamasole Kanyange and Kabaka Suuna used while visiting each other.

When Kabaka Suuna II was crowned the King of Buganda, he ordered for the construction of a nice and comfortable place for his dear mother adjacent to his official residential Palace and it is believed that he did this purposely because his the endless love and adoration he had for his mother so that nothing could come between the love of a mother to his son and vice versa. Other legends have it that the King just wanted to keep a close eye on his beautiful mother and interestingly, she was a very powerful woman in the Royal Court at the time.

Kabaka Suuna was one of the Kings in Buganda to defy traditions and one of the things he went against was the fact that a Crown Prince was never supposed to ever see his mother but he did the opposite with his lovely mother. Another interesting thing is that whenever the Queen mother (Nnamasole Kanyange) wished to see her son, she would just beat the drums and on hearing that, the King would meet his mother. Nonetheless, your visit to the Tombs will allow you to see these century-old drums at the site and presently, Tombs are considered important cultural sites where many of the Kingdom’s ceremonies and rituals were conducted. More still, there is a special sacred drum at the Royal Tomb and was used for summoning King Suuna’s spirit.

Before passing on, it is said that Kanyange selected a new Nnamasole to continue with her Royal duties and until today, some of the descendants of the Clan continue with the responsibilities.

• How to Reach Nnamasole Kanyange Tombs?

This important cultural site is found within Kagoma at approximately 12 kilometers/or 30 minutes drive from Kampala City Center along the Kagoma-Kawempe Road, where you will turn left from Kagoma Trading Center to a dusty murram road that continues to the Royal Tombs.