Nkokonjeru Tombs

Nkokonjeru on a hill above Mbarara holds the tomb of Sir Charles Gasyonga II, the last Omugabe of Ankole, who reigned from 1944 until the kingdoms were abolished in 1967 and died in 1982. Unlike Buganda and Bunyoro, the Ankole kingdom has not been restored, which gives the site a different weight. The tomb is a modest brick structure with an inscription, and the hill gives a view over Mbarara and the surrounding country.

What you actually see

• The tomb - the grave of the last Omugabe of Ankole, who died in 1982.
• The hill view - Mbarara and the surrounding cattle country from the top.
• The Ankole context - a kingdom not restored when the others were in 1993.
• The site setting - a quiet cemetery above the town.

When to go

Year round; the site is open in daylight. Weekdays are quiet. The road up is short but steep.

Honest expectations

The site is very modest and the visit takes twenty minutes. There is minimal interpretation. Maintenance is limited and the grounds are plain.

Nearby

Mbarara is below, and Igongo Cultural Centre is east.