“Enhancing awareness and popularising Cultural heritage for sustainable development”

Uganda Pioneers’ Association has for 3 times worked on the renovation and the beautification of Wamala Tombs. In 2011, we supported the site by digging and construction of a new pit latrine to improve the sanitation.

Wamala Tombs is the burial ground for the 29th King of Buganda, the late Ssekabaka Suuna II
This 195 years cultural heritage site is set on a hilltop with beautiful surroundings,

Although these tombs are only 30 minutes from Kampala, along Kampala – Hoima road, only 2.5 kilometres after a right turn off Hoima road.
With the fall of the kingdoms in 1967, this and other heritage sites were severely neglected and destroyed. For the first time, Buganda Kingdom has taken up to renovate this site starting last year.
With the torching down of the Kasubi Tombs in March 2010, the only UNESCO Heritage site in Uganda, the hope to rebuild it.

UPA has chosen to organise a workcamp to engage on improving the sanitation of the tombs through, Greening it by planting trees and flowers in the compound.
On the other hand, the project will engage on a campaign to sensitise and develop appreciation of world heritage values through distributing and circulating printed fliers promoting conservation of this cultural heritage site and conduct Forum theatre Outreaches to popularise the plight of this cultural heritage site to the public.
To improve sanitation around Wamala Tombs
Create awareness on the need to conserve and promote cultural heritage
To beautify the cultural heritage site
•Slashing, digging, cleaning the heritage site
•Planting fruit and compound (decoration) trees
•Planting live fence trees around the tombs
•Landscaping
•Distributing fliers and posters
•Conducting theatre and outreach discussions

•That sanitation around Wamala Tombs will improve
•Reduction of garbage around the tombs
•Distribute 500 leaflets on cultural heritage values
•One day public sensitisation on cultural heritage using posters, fliers and theatre presentations.
•500 fliers and 500 posters distributed to communities.
Working on this site is a direct opportunity to see and learn about the history of the site.

There is also the possibility of visiting the Uganda Museum, Entebbe Wild life Centre and Botanical beach gardens all found in a radius of not more than 40 kilometres from the camp site but at the cost of interested volunteers.
Participants will work 6 hours daily from Monday to Friday. Weekends are for social interaction and/ or excursions unless if the official camp programme has an activity.

There is also the possibility of visiting the Uganda Museum, Entebbe Wild life Centre and Botanical beach gardens all found in a radius of not more than 40 kilometres from the camp site but at the cost of interested volunteers.

International participants are required to pay a fee of 250 Euros. The fee covers pick up from the airport or bus station upon arrival in Uganda, Orientation at the UPA guesthouse, local transport to and from the work camp, food and accommodation during the work camp. The fee also contributes to the running of activities taking place during the work camp and communication prior to the camp.

Preservation, protection, planting trees, cleaning, education campaign, sensitization, advocacy, promotion, documentary film production.

Wamala Tombs, Kampala

The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi constitute a site embracing almost 30 ha of hillside within Kampala district. UVDA organised a camp here in 2012. Most of the site is agricultural, farmed by traditional methods. At its core on the hilltop is the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. Four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It is a major example of an architectural achievement in organic materials, principally wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub. The site's main significance lies, however, in its intangible values of belief, spirituality, continuity and identity.

It was put on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger in 2010. The main shelter for the tombs was burned down and is being renovated.

The project aim is to identify different possibilities for innovative, non-formal and informal learning approaches on intercultural and international volunteering projects and to develop capacity to facilitate learning on intercultural and international volunteer projects. This project also aims to understand the role of international and intercultural voluntary experiences in promoting the core values of the heritage sites and cultural values for participants and the communities and to support long term cultural heritage through sustainable and cost effective management of cultural resources by providing a sound basis for sustainable tourism.

The volunteers will organize activities such as tree planting, production of awareness and advocacy materials, screening of cultural films, etc. Furthermore, volunteers will run awareness raising workshop involving communities and conduct debates, reflections and exchanges on World Heritage issues as continuation from the 2012 project.

The project will be supported by the Buganda Kingdom, a local company which specializes in heritage preservation. Buganda Kingdom will provide materials that are needed for activities such as reeds, backcloth and trees. These will be locally produced, thereby increasing local efforts to preserve heritage. Furthermore, Buganda Kingdom will also provide personnel and train and assist youth in activities such as tree planning. Involvement of local industry will be crucial for project's long-term sustainability.

€200 is payable on arrival. This supports the cost of the workcamp and supports the survival of the association.

Flights arrive at Entebbe airport. Normally you will be met there but keep a little cash for transport in case it is needed.