Mparo is a village in Hoima district located of western Uganda. It’s where the Mparo Tombs, one of the Royal burial sites of the Bunyoro Kingdom are found. The Mparo Tombs are a historical cultural site in Kingdom where people go to perform rituals and also seek inspiration from Omukama Kabalega.
The royal tombs are the burial site of the Bunyoro Kings like Omukama Kabalega who reigned in Bunyoro Kitara in the late 19th century who was later ousted by the British.
Kabalega was exiled to the Seychelles in 1899, after resisting British rule. Omukama Kabalega is a key figure in African history and is remembered for resisting colonial rule against the British.
Inside the Mparo royal tombs, there are the Kings spears, bowls, throne and other personal effects on display. Also buried at the site is the late Sir Tito Winyi IV, father of the current Omukama, Rukirabasaija Agutamba Solomon Gafabusa Iguru and other kingdom royals.
While at Mparo royal tombs, an individual is not allowed to enter while putting on shoes or should not have engaged in extramarital affairs the night before, while the ladies should not be in periods if they want to access this place.
There is a cone shaped monument at Mparo royal tombs which was built at the exact spot where Omukama Kabalega met Emin Pasha on September, 22, 1877, at Mparo palace who had come to Bunyoro to convince Omukama Kabalega to allow Bunyoro be part of British colonial rule, a pledge he later resisted after 12 days. The monument is one of the facilities that are part of the Mparo Royal tombs.
The local people of Bunyoro Kingdom who have visited this place say their problems and burdens are always answered when they visit this place.
Some of them still fear to come near this place due to the respect and awe they have towards the man commonly known as the Lion of Bunyoro.
Take your time off and visit Mparo royal tombs where the remains of Omukama Kabalega were laid to rest and preserved.
At this year’s Empago celebration of Bunyoro Kingdom which is celebrated every year on June 10th, the Omukama of Bunyoro Solomon Gafabusa said that, the Mparo royal tombs will be put on the level of an international tourist attraction because it’s the face of the Kingdom.
