A Leaking Royal Tomb Exposes Bunyoro’s Tourism Challenge Before AFCON

The roof over King Kabalega’s burial place is leaking, even as nearby Hoima prepares to welcome football visitors. For residents and cultural leaders in Uganda’s Bunyoro region, the contrast exposes a tourism opportunity at risk: historic sites could draw spending during and after the Africa Cup of Nations, but many need repairs and better visitor facilities, according to Nile Post Uganda (direct).

Mparo Royal Tombs sits about three kilometres from Hoima City centre, along the Hoima–Masindi Road and near Hoima City Stadium. It holds the remains of Kabalega and Omukama Sir Tito Winyi, father of the reigning king, Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I. Yet the site has overgrown vegetation and ageing infrastructure, including rusty gates. Bunyoro Chief Prince Okwir Fred Mugenyi Rucunya reported the leaking roof after visiting.

Bunyoro Chief Prince Okwir Fred Mugenyi Rucunya said the condition of Kabalega’s burial place was shameful.

Heritage assets, missing visitor infrastructure

The concern extends beyond the royal tombs. Residents and leaders point to the Sir Samuel Baker Monument in Masindi, the Kabalega Caves and Kibiro Hot Springs as part of a wider network of potential attractions. Other sites include Baligota Isansa in Masindi, associated with Kabalega’s escape from Sir Samuel Baker, and monuments at Buhimba honouring people who died during the wars.

The challenge is turning that history into places visitors can reach and explore. Residents say many sites are underdeveloped and lack the infrastructure to attract and accommodate tourists. They want the government and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom to improve access roads, signs and visitor facilities, alongside preserving the landmarks themselves. Their argument is that football fans need reasons to travel beyond the stadium and return after the tournament.

Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato said the sites could support tourism during and after AFCON, but their present condition was troubling. Hoima resident Fred Byenkya made the commercial stakes clear: Bunyoro has numerous heritage sites, but they cannot generate income without repairs. Both questioned why places with such historical importance and tourism potential had not received greater attention.

Development plans face a restoration test

Funding and priorities are also under scrutiny. Questions have been raised about resources available to the kingdom, including money and support received through corporate partnerships, and how much goes towards protecting cultural heritage. Rucunya has urged stakeholders, including Bunyoro subjects, to organise fundraising campaigns for rehabilitation. He warned of the embarrassment of welcoming visitors to Kabalega’s burial place in its current state.

Kingdom Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga acknowledged the concerns. He linked some administrative difficulties to the poor health of the Omukama, who has reportedly been unwell since 2019. Byakutaga also said the kingdom was working with the Uganda Tourism Board and had identified several important sites for development ahead of AFCON.

Those planned improvements are intended to help Bunyoro benefit from the tournament’s expected increase in visitors while protecting its heritage. The next test is whether the identified sites receive the restoration and visitor infrastructure residents are seeking—so the region’s history becomes part of the football trip, rather than an opportunity left outside the stadium.