Wamala Tombs- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Nestled on a hill in Nabweru Sub‑county, Wakiso District—just 13 km from central Kampala—the Wamala Tombs are the sacred burial site of Ssekabaka Suuna II, the 29th king of Buganda (1832–1856). These grass‑thatched, conical tombs form one of only two surviving royal burial complexes in Uganda, alongside Kasubi Tombs. Suuna II was known for unprecedented polygamy—148 wives and 218 children—and for being the final king to separate his jawbone for spiritual enshrinement within the shrine, believed to house his spirit. His reign also marked a pivotal moment in Buganda's history when Arab traders were first welcomed, and Islam began to take root. Today, the Wamala Tombs remain an active venue for royal rituals overseen by Suuna's descendants, preserving centuries‑old traditions in a living cultural context. Within the shrine, visitors can observe ceremonial spears, shields, sacred shrines, and the so‑called "eternal forest" behind a hidden wall—elements that showcase the spiritual sophistication of Buganda's pre‑colonial society. The site's location atop Wamala Hill offers a strategic panorama of the surrounding hills and nearby Kagoma, where Suuna's mother lived, underlining the site's enduring link to clan identity and ancestral heritage.