Naggalabi Buddo Kabaka Mutebi's Coronation site

By Hannington Sebuliba

Twenty five years ago, I was a student at Makerere University in my Second Year. As preperations for Kabaka Mutebi II were going on, I got my yashika camera and took a few pictures at Kabaka's Lake in Mengo near Ndeeba.

The traditional coronation site at Naggalabi Buddo

Kabaka's Lake in 1993, Kabaka was seated in a canoe waving to clan members

I also went to Naggalabi the coronation site to see the preparations going on. As a member of the Baganda Nkoba za Mbogo group in Makerere University, I got a chance to be one of the ushers that helped to welcome guests.

The natural throne made out of  roots at Naggalabi Buddo

It was a long vacation and I was living with my parents Venerable Enock and Jane Sebuliba at Buwere Divinity College, where my father was the Principal. On the eve of the coronation, I informed them that as an official at the coronation, I would be needed at the site at day break. They had no objection but to accompany me to Buwama town which is 3 km away.

Workers putting final touches on the  coronation platform

I boarded a taxi at 3:00am and left for Naggalabi Buddo. By 4:30am I was already at the site and you would think that it was already day break  as a multitude of  people were already at the site.  The sound of the drums and other instruments showed how much people were waiting for their Kabaka to ascend to the throne.

the 600 year old muwafu tree where coronation takes place

As dawn approached, a group of people led by Omutaka Ssemanobe of the Mamba Clan went to fight in a mock fight called olutalo olw'ebirumbirumbi. During this mock battle, Ssemanobe and Omutaka Nankere and his men fight with the Crown Prince's army at the gate near King's College Budo. The battle takes us back to the fight between Kabaka Bemba Musota and Kabaka Kintu. This battle was eventually won by Kintu and he started the current Buganda Dynasty. So on that day in 1993, Crown Prince Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II's army won the battle and ululations and jubilations started.

The platform where the Church Coronation took place

One unfortunate thing is that I did not move with my camera to capture some of the moments as it required accreditation from the Presidential Press Unit. Therefore, the photos of the coronation shown in here were not take by me. The only photos I took are those of the preperations.

a hut called Nakibuuka at Buddo

After the battle, the coronation functions started with each of the clan head performing his duty. I was amused to see Mugema (head of the Nkima clan) was a young man and knew what he was actually doing. The other person that amused me was a Reverend Father who was the Kalinda Mazzi. The functions were crowned by Omutaka Gabunga crowning the Kabaka with a tradition crown called engule ey'engugu.

Katikkiro Mayanja Nkangi hands over a spear to Kabaka

The moment of truth came when Katikkiro Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi hold Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi's right hand and showed it to the people saying "Ono ye Kabaka wammwe era Kabaka wange" meaning this is your King and also my King.  The Kabaka was fully dressed in backcloth, white tunic, and animal hides

Ululations, dancing and beating of the drums then followed after the Kabaka had sounded the Mujaguzo drums that are made up of so many drums among which are Kawulugumo, Namanyonyi and others. Later on a very strong man from the Mbogo clan carried the Kabaka on his shoulders and took him around as the Kabaka waved to his subjects. He was then taken to Bwanika and Buganda House.

Kabaka after the clan heads had performed rituals on him

Rt. Rev. Misaeri Kauma crowning the Kabaka

When he came out he was now clad in a black double breast blazer and a white kanzu (tunic). Then a Church service that was ecumenical in nature started led by the Bishop of Namirembe Rt. Rev. Misaeri Kauma and the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda the Most. Rev. Yona Okoth together with other Bishops of the Church of Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and Seventhday Adventist Church.

Each of the bishops performed a duty  and the Bishop of Namirembe Misaeri Kauma crowning the Kabaka. The Bishop of Masaka Catholic Diocese Rt. Rev. Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu gave a very moving homily. And finally the Achbishop of the Church of Uganda prayed  and gave a blessing to the Kabaka.

After the prayers the Legal team led by Owek. John Katende, Owek. Godfrey Lule and Owek. Charles  Peter Mayiga led the swearing in ceremony.

Rotary Club of Buloba's 3RD Presidential Installation and Charter Night

Nine miles along Mityana Road is suburban town of Bulaga Bulenga. The area is densely populated with most of the households sharing almost everything.

Just after the market on your right hand side as you drive towards Mityana is a huge signpost of Joggies Recreation Centre. Next to it is another signpost of the Rotary club of Buloba pointing at the direction of Joggies Recreation Centre which is the home of this Rotary club. 

Rtn. Dr. Louis Kasekende Installing President  Stephen Mukwaya 

It is at this place that the Rotary club of Buloba fellowships every Tuesday  evening. As you slope down you notice the neighboring households with signs of abject poverty. This is the right place for a community based Rotary club to fellowship in and thus help the communities around to see the impact of rotary if for instance they hold a rotary day by cleaning Bulaga township and even giving those people some public health talk. The impact would greatly be felt in the area.

Joggies Recreation centre

As you enter Joggies Recreation, the atmosphere changes completely as you see the beautiful gardens, well tended lawns and some semblance of paradise. As you walk through the walkways under tree canopies with artistic sculptures made by the proprietor Joseph Ssali Ssalongo who is also a member of the Rotary club of Buloba, you tend to forget what you saw outside the gate. Here you face nature as the birds sing in their melodious voices, you just thank God for the gift of nature.

Down in the valley is a made lake named Nalongo Lake. You are free to sit by the lake side and enjoy the breeze or you can pay some money to sail in a dugout canoe. The experience you'll get here is for you alone to tell a story after the visit. It is actually a place for one to have a retreat after a heavy day's work. That place is highly ideal for romantic outings. There are also cottages for those who want to spend nights outside the city.

3RD PESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION AND CHARTER NIGHT.

I HAD diverted a bit but my main purpose of this story was about the installation of the third president of the Rotary club of Buloba Stephen Mukwaya.

Unlike many installations held in hotel rooms, and gardens, this one was different and unique as it was held by the lakeside.

The atmosphere was romantic  and sound of the bakisimba drums gave it the true meaning of the community based rotary club. As the DJ of the day played music that reverberated from the good music system provided by Joggies you would think that you were somewhere in Miami near the beach.

Tents by the lake side

Like the time manager I am, I happened to arrive at the venue 30minutes before arrival time. Indefinitely found the organisers still making final touches. An hour later I decided to go and register my presence. I was ushered in by the outgoing president a senior Prisons officer in the Uganda Government Prisons Service. He is such a jolly person and thanked me for being the first guest to arrive.

As I read through the Buloba Rotarian Magazine, other guests started flocking in one by one. In the background you could listen to some soft music. I then overheard one of the organisers telling her fellow members that the guest of honour had artived an hour back but the place was still empty with very few guests. Another one chipped in saying that mist of the invited Rotarians were coming from another installation in Mityana and that might have been the cause of the delay.

Two hours later, a traditonal dancing troupe arrived and started performing for close to thirty minutes until they were called to go and usher in the guest of honour. At 6:30pm, the guest of honour Rtn. Dr. Louis Kasekende a Rotarian of the Rotary club of Kampala North together with his wife a mber of the Rotary club of Bukoto arrived and the function begun.

Traditional dancers that spiced up the ocassion

The MC of the day Rtn. Kaitarama of RC Makindye ensured that guests were not bored at all as he spiced the function with funny jokes.

IPP Samuel Mukasa

As the outgoing president made an account of his mission green year, people listened carefully and you could see on his face that he was satisified that he had actually accomplished a task given to him a year back. During this year, RC Buloba had been able to scoope a prestigious District 9211 Most Gender Balanced Rotary Club of the year 2017/18. "We have recruited 19 new Rotarians making our diversity both in classifications and gender more or less to balance.  I wish to recognize the overwhelming support by our AG Emmy Kwesiga.  He has been very patient and has guided me tremendously.  He has attended some of our club fellowships and retreats in the year and also been with us in the some Board meetings." he noted.

The Deputy Governor of Bank of Uganda, Dr Louis Kasekende, has urged Rotarians to equip youth with vocational skills in order to improve their incomes. He went on to say that almost 78% of Uganda’s population is below 30 years of age. About 90% of the youth are in the informal sector and, of that, 60% are in agriculture. “Failure to equip the youth, especially graduates, with skills,” Kasekende said, “the people who are financially stable  cannot enjoy their sleep if the unemployed and the underprivileged youth forcefully seek their share at night.”

He asked Rotarians to voluntarily commit themselves to serve and support the youth. He said the role of Rotary is

to partner with the Government to address the inequalities in societies and also to seek a shared prosperity. “Let us improve productivityby focusing on the welfare of Ugandans. Let us invest in health, education, skilling and mentoring the youth to become good entrepreneurs,” Kasekende advised.

He promised that as Bank of Uganda, they will be able to donate 3million shillings towards a project that will be geared at improving the livelihoods of the youths in Buloba area.

 The outgoing Past Assistant Governor Emmy Kwesiga congratulated Mission Green President Sam Mukasa and his board for pulling through the year and the very many great achievements recorded especially in membership growth, Foundation giving, Mission Green initiative and Public Relations through participation. "You ably exhibited your unwavering capacity as a great leader and you were indeed a super Mission green President." he said.

On his part, President Stephen Mukwaya thanked Dr. Kasekende for gracing the occassion and  promised to  focus on Increase on relevant Membership classifications minimum 10 members by the end of Rotary year.  Implore members to Increase TRF giving by at least $4000 by the end of Rotary Year .

He said that he has plans of ensuring that the club brings on board at least two Corporate Organizations (KS TV) and 1 Potential Local partnership in delivering services to disadvantaged communities. He thanked the  guest of Honor, Rtn. Dr. Louis Kasekende and other District and Country officials for gracing this occasion and sparing their precious time to be at the  3rd Installation of  the President of the Rotary Club of Buloba. 

He also thanked  Rotarians, Non- Rotarians who stood with  him  to raise $12000 to take his  daughter  Divine Grace Namukwaya to India for stem Cell therapy treatment. He said that the daughter was currently responding to medication well. 

President Stephen introducing his Board of Directors

He  then presented his cabinet of the Board of Directors for the Rotary Year 2018/19.

The function was well attended by a number of rotarians, it was sort of a mini district conference because almost all clubs in an around Kampala were represented. The District Governor Elect Xavier Ssentamu and other country officials attended in huge numbers.

After a sumptous meal, the rotarians led by the new president danced till the wee hours. This was an installation to remember.