Time Travel in Heritage Reconstruction: The Case of the Kasubi Royal Tombs at Kampala, Uganda

The Kasubi Royal Tombs serve as a living cultural and spiritual hub where ancestral spirits guide reconstruction efforts amid crises. Two devastating fires in the past decade disrupted its functioning but revealed how past events, pacts, and ritual roles of clans and mediums provide critical frameworks for recovery. This study highlights the role of immaterial heritage—ancestral guidance—in shaping tangible solutions for damaged sites, offering a people-centred approach to heritage reconstruction that integrates spiritual, social, and material dimensions. By analyzing historical patterns of decision-making and capacity-building, the research underscores the importance of ancestral traditions in orienting stakeholders toward sustainable recovery, informing future generations, and preserving cultural integrity.

Nsubuga, J. (2025). Time Travel in Heritage Reconstruction: The Case of the Kasubi Royal Tombs at Kampala, Uganda. Heritage Reconstruction and People: Integrated Recovery after Trauma, 245–256. https://doi.org/10.56500/c-r2131