Decision 43 COM 7A.56

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.16, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
3. Acknowledges the progress that the State Party has made in responding to previous Committee decisions, as well as the progress made towards achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) to date;
4. Appreciates the support offered by the Government of Japan through the re-opening of the Japan Funds in Trust to UNESCO project ‘Technical and financial assistance for the reconstruction of Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga, architectural masterpiece of the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, Uganda, World Heritage property in Danger’, and encourages the State Party to actively implement the project, which is offering support towards risk prevention, reconstruction and documentation as well as capacity building;
5. Requests the State Party to implement the Master Plan for the property after its final technical review by the Advisory Bodies, and continue working towards finalising development guidelines for the buffer zone of the property as well as finalising the Disaster Risk Management Plan;
6. Welcomes the measures taken by the State Party to ensure the safeguarding of the Bujjabukula (Gate House) through an ongoing World Heritage International Assistance project, which is supporting a comprehensive restoration and capacity building as well as research and documentation of the structure, construction techniques, materials, technological and craft authenticity, and also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre:
   1. A detailed catalogue, including a detailed photographic record, of the existing materials and construction techniques with which the Bujjabukula was constructed, including its extant foundations flooring, walls, structure, ceiling and roof,
   2. A detailed restoration plan including detailed architectural drawings, restoration methodology and documentation plan, focussed on the maximum retention of authentic materials and technologies, and aimed at developing and maintaining traditional construction crafts, for review by the Advisory Bodies before implementation;
7. Also welcomes the State Party’s submission of the improved design for the physical fire-fighting infrastructure, through funding of the Japan Funds-in-Trust to UNESCO, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before implementation;
8. Further requests that the State Party amend the Kampala Physical Development Plan to align it with the property’s Master Plan and buffer zone development guidelines, once these are complete and have been reviewed by the Advisory Bodies;
9. Also urges the State Party to continue its work on the corrective measures adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011);
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020;
11. Decides to retain the Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.