UN agency UNESCO has announced the removal of the Kasubi Royal Tombs from the list of endangered World Heritage sites.
The UN cultural agency says it was satisfied with the reconstruction efforts.
The decision was announced by the World Heritage Committee at the ongoing convention in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“This reconstruction is a collective success: that of the Ugandan authorities, Ugandan heritage professionals, but also the local communities who were at the heart of the process,” UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay noted.
“This is excellent news for the entire international community, as we have made it a priority for World Heritage to give more space to African sites,” he added.
The Buganda kingdom has warmly welcomed the move saying that it will generate more employment opportunities across the tourism value chain.
The fire that gated the tombs in 2010 left the cultural place in a state of despair, and UNESCO declared the site endangered.
According to Buganda kingdom, the reopening of the tombs will further serve as a catalyst for reviving tourism and contributing to the economic growth of both Buganda and Uganda.
The kingdom believes that the removal of the endangered status will not only re-ignite cultural pride and historical significance but will also provide an economic boost to both Buganda and Uganda.
Kasubi Tombs has been undergoing reconstruction with the help of international funding since the 2010 blaze.
The World Heritage Site comprises around 26 hectares (64 acres) on the Kasubi hill. The tombs became a royal burial ground in 1884.
The site is one of 31 royal tombs across the Buganda kingdom since the kingdom was founded in the 13th century.
