Decision 39 COM 7A.23

Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) (C 1022)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.26, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
3. Notes the progress made on the reconstruction of the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga and congratulates the State Party for its continued committment to this work;
4. Expresses its concern that the timelines provided in the state of conservation report for the reconstruction of the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga are overly optimistic, and in order to better reflect the need for careful work to be carried out on the thatching, and on the redesign and installation of a fire protection system, requests that the State Party provide a revised, realistic reconstruction project timeline, with clearly defined benchmarks;
5. Also expresses its great concern that ad-hoc developments within the property could adversely impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
6. Also requests the State Party to:
   1. halt further work on the provision of a reservoir and a fire-fighting system, alterations to the entrance, implementation of a visitor route or development of tourism facilities such as restaurants, until an Integrated Master Plan has been completed and submitted to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, as requested by the Committee since 2012,
   2. prepare, in order to inform the Master Plan, a comprehensive site plan showing all structures on the property, indicating their date of construction as far as is ascertainable, and submit this to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
7. Further expresses its concern that the plans to widen Masiro Road may encroach on one edge of the property, and further requests the State Party to ensure that this proposal is realigned in such a way as to avoid any negative impact on the OUV of the property, and to submit revised plans to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
8. Requests furthermore the State Party to revise the management plan for the property to take into account the new management structure for the property, and in particular, to ensure that the safeguarding of the OUV of the property is the overarching principle for management decisions, and to submit the plan to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
9. Requests moreover that a comprehensive disaster risk management plan and a tourism plan be developed and integrated into the management plan;
10. Requests in addition the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016;
11. Decides to retain the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.