Police in Kampala have arrested a man for allegedly attempting to set fire to the Kasubi Royal Tombs, commonly known as Masiro.
The suspect has been identified as Joseph Sebunya, a resident of Masiro zone 3.
According to police, Sebunya was apprehended at around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, 7th November, 2025, after being spotted trying to jump the perimeter wall of the royal tombs using a ladder.
He is currently detained at Old Kampala Police Station as investigations continue.
Police say the arrest followed a tip-off from Deo Kiwanuka, a local resident who was returning home from night duty when he noticed suspicious movements near the Masiro site wall.
“At around 3:00 a.m., while returning from night duty, Kiwanuka noticed a man, later identified as Sebunya, attempting to scale the perimeter wall of the Masiro. The suspect was carrying a liter of petrol, a matchbox, and a ladder. Kiwanuka immediately raised the alarm, which led to the man’s arrest,” the Old Kampala police told our reporter.
Neighbors have since revealed that Sebunya, a returnee from Afghanistan, recently attempted to set his fiancée wife known as Mama Mellon on fire following a domestic dispute which incident left several household items burnt.
Authorities are now investigating whether Sebunya intended to commit suicide, target his estranged wife whose house is located just 20 meters away or he deliberately wanted to burn the Kasubi Tombs (Masiro).
However, in his defense, Sebunya claimed the petrol was intended for use during power outages, though investigators noted that the presence of a ladder and matchbox contradicted his explanation.
This incident comes weeks after Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga expressed concern over reports that unknown individuals were plotting to burn the Kasubi Tombs, warning that such acts could destabilize the Buganda Kingdom’s progress and threaten national peace.
The Kasubi Royal Tombs, a sacred burial site for Buganda’s monarchs, were reconstructed after a devastating fire in 2010 destroyed most of the original structure.
This latest attempted arson has sparked new fears over the safety of Uganda’s cultural heritage sites.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will be charged accordingly once inquiries are complete.
