Mutebi reignites love for kingdom, unity among Baganda

With the restoration of Buganda Kingdom and the coronation of her king, a clear path towards development was charted. The fruits of that course can be seen 23 years later in both the social and economic spheres.
Buganda has gone through what one would call a renaissance of its culture and economic activity, after the ‘dark ages’ when the kingdom was abolished.

Before the 1966 abolition, there were divisions among the Baganda along sectarian lines. People who adhered to specific religions were automatically affiliated to particular political parties.
For instance, from the turn of the 20th Century until about 30 years ago, a catholic Muganda automatically belonged to the Democratic Party (DP); while the various Protestant groupings belonged to Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC), Kabaka Yekka (KY), or Conservative Party (CP). The Muslims, politically marginalised, hung in the middle ground. Today, these divisions are a thing of the past.

Unity among the Baganda
The renewed love for the Kabaka and the kingdom has forged a kind of unity among Baganda. Not even the increasingly polarising political atmosphere in the country has been able to break that unity. Even Baganda living in the diaspora feel that they are a part of the kingdom back home.
When it comes to issues concerning the Kabaka, all religions and political parties work together. Nothing symbolises this more that the collecting of Ettoffaali.

Mr Noah Kiyimba, the minister for information and Buganda Kingdom spokesperson, says: “If you look at Ettoffaali and the way people turn up everywhere Katikkiro (Charles Peter) Mayiga turns up shows the love people have for their Kabaka.”

According to Kiyimba, so far about Shs9 billion has been collected. This, and the fact that people give the little they have, is a strong indicator of unity, he says.
This unity, which is also seen during the calls for Bulungi Bwansi (community service) according to former Katikkiro, Joash Mayanja-Nkangi, is a result of the hard work of the Kabaka.

“Since 1993, he has worked hard for the people to know about the institution of the Kabaka and its importance in Buganda. It is because of this unity and love of the Kabaka that people call the Katikkiro to return to their areas to collect more money,” he says.

He adds that the fact that the Katikkiro does not have to ask for permission from the central government or police to go to an area to collect money is a milestone. The money collected in the Ettoffaali project is not taxed by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), which is also momentous.

Developmental projects
Probably the first kingdom project was the launching of Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) in 1996. Where the first radio stations were all about musical entertainment, the kingdom broadcaster not only served as a portal to educate its subjects on their culture, but through its programmes it has spread economic empowerment.
“People started small-scale businesses after being mentored by Nsindika Njake programme,” Kiyimba says, adding, “We know the reality facing our people and instead of remaining aloof, through these radio programmes we are directly influencing lives.”
With the opening of Buganda Broadcasting Services (BBS Terefayina), the developmental programmes will be disseminated over a wider viewership.
Majority of Baganda in rural areas are engaged in subsistence farming. Ordinarily extension services would have been provided by National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads), but when a gap developed in service delivery, Buganda Cultural and Development Foundation (BUCADEF) has tried to fill it by providing crop seedlings and advisory services to the communities.
Giant steps have also been taken to provide better education services in public schools. In 1999, the kingdom established Lubiri High School, which to date, has more than 1,500 enrolled students. At the tertiary level, Buganda Royal Institute and Muteesa I Royal University are offering quality and practical education to a generation that is grappling with youth unemployment.
On the other hand, the establishment of The Kabaka’s Education Fund has seen 45,000 primary pupils, 69,000 secondary pupils and 49,500 students at tertiary levels all over Uganda receive bursaries to continue their education.

Revenue generating projects
In 1993, the National Resistance Council passed the Traditional Rulers and Restitution of Assets and Properties Statute under which some of the kingdom’s properties that had been confiscated by the government in 1966 were returned.
The markets belonging to the kingdom such as Nakulabye, Kibuye and Kasubi markets have long been generating income into the kingdom coffers. Recently, Muganzirrwaza and Masengere (Bulange Plaza) were both completed and are housing tenants.

“Mirembe Villas is under construction,” Kiyimba says, adding, “It has 40 modern rental houses. The kingdom is also planning to build rental houses for low income earners in Ssentema, Busiro.”
Before the Kasubi Royal Tombs mysteriously went up in flames in 2010, they had been named a Unesco world heritage site. As such, they were a tourist attraction. With the extensive construction works going on, it is hoped that by the end of next year, the Tombs – sitting on 64 acres of prime land – will open way for more revenue to the kingdom.
Other places, such as the Wamala Tombs and the manmade Kabaka’s Lake are also being restored. In August 2013, government also returned more properties to the kingdom which will help in its development.

Social development
When it comes to teaching the youth about their culture and tradition, The Nabagereka Development Foundation is leading the way. Since it was inaugurated in 2007, more than 10,000 children have benefited from its programmes.
“The foundation is causing a revival in our culture through its Ekisaakaate programme,” Kiyimba says, adding, “Many children and young adults from across Uganda attend the annual programme where they are taught morals, domestic skills and social skills. The programme is being implemented overseas, as well.”
The Bika Football Tournament and Ssaza Football Cup are firmly entrenched in the local sports scene, attracting large crowds.
The Kabaka Birthday Run is now a much anticipated annual event drawing corporate sponsorship. For the last three years, the proceeds from the run have been used to treat women suffering from fistula. Last year, the run raised Shs70m which was donated to Kitovu Hospital in Masaka District.
Also, in line with keeping the people in the kingdom healthy, free health camps were organised to commemorate the 23rd coronation anniversary. According to Kiyimba, plans are underway for Buganda to build a referral hospital in Lubiri.

Mutebi the gentle king

As any other public figure, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi attracts curiosity from both his subjects and the general public. His love for fitness is a well-known fact, considering the pictures of him jogging, early in the morning, with his security detail, that surface every now and then on social media.
Probably the most memorable event was on February 18 when he made an unannounced appearance at St Stephen Church polling station in Kireka, while on his jogging routine. As in all other polling stations in Wakiso, voters were disgruntled due to the delayed delivery of the voting materials.
However, when the crowd saw the Kabaka, they began cheering. He waved at them, spoke a few words, and departed.
Besides the public appearances, what is the Kabaka like as a man? Only a long-term friend can decipher the character of a man. One such man exists, although he prefers to speak anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The smiling king
The source, who has been close to the king since their days living in London, says Mutebi is a friendly man who finds it easy to smile.
“He smiles a lot and rarely gets angry. Different kings were known for their peculiar characters. Muteesa I was called Mukaabya because in the beginning of his reign he was quite ruthless. Mwanga II was also brutal, and Muteesa II had a terrible temper. However, the 36th Kabaka is gentle,” he says.
The “smiling king” is something many can attest to, judging from kingdom functions the Kabaka has graced. But what does it feel like to share a joke with him?
“Once in a while he loves to tell a joke. He will call me just to talk about a joking subject, as (Moses) Golola would call it. Of course, even if it is very funny I cannot start laughing until he laughs at the joke first,” he adds.
He says even though they have known each other for a long time, he cannot dare to start narrating a joke to the Kabaka.
“Omanyi saagala kumanyira Kabaka (You know, I do not want to be familiar with the Kabaka). He has to start telling the joke, and even if I have narrated the joke I cannot laugh at it before him. What if he thinks I am laughing at him, or disrespecting him?”
He adds, though, that the Kabaka is a man who takes life simply and hates complicating it.

Slow to anger
Those who know him say Mutebi takes time to get angry, and even when he does, he might not show it openly.
“Only something very serious can elicit an outburst of anger from him,” the source says, continuing, “You can annoy him for 15 times and he lets it pass, but on the 16th time, he will lose his cool.”
That is when he will communicate to his displeasure to an aide, telling him, “Oyo muzibuzibu. Temumukomyawo.” (That is a difficult man. Do not bring him back)
“I have never seen him abuse people and I have never heard of him doing so. If he makes that statement to his aides, all you will see is the Abambowa (palace guards) telling you not to return to the palace. If you reform your ways, he might let you return, if you do not, well, he has many other people to deal with.”

A liberal father
The Kabaka is married to the Nnabagereka, Sylvia Nagginda, whom he wedded on August 27, 1999, at St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. It was a long awaited wedding. The BBC on September 2, 1999, published an article referring to the function as Uganda’s ‘wedding of the century’.
At 43, Kabaka Mutebi kept his subjects guessing for a long time, before announcing his engagement in May 1999. He was the oldest bachelor king in Buganda’s history - and his predecessors over the past 500 years have traditionally married in their teens, and had several wives and concubines.
The Kabaka has five children, who include, Prince (Kiweewa) Crispin Jjunju Suuna, Princess Joan Nassolo. Princess Victoria Nkinzi. Princess Katrina Sarah Kirabo Ssangalyambogo and Prince Richard Ssemakookiro.
“He loves children, and while other parents will feel uncomfortable attending functions with their children, he takes his along. He does not dictate his wishes on them; in fact, he gives them the freedom to do and study whatever they want,” the source says.
His older children have had their higher education in prestigious universities out of the country.
“One thing he values is unity,” the friend says, continuing, “Although his children have different mothers, he makes sure there is unity between them.”

Mutebi the cautious man
Kabaka Mutebi is known by those close to him as someone who does not rush into decisions.
“If he is told about the bad conduct of one of his officials, he inquiries from many people about that particular official before forming an opinion. In most cases, he will consult the Katikkiro about the character of the said official. You cannot just report someone to him and expect him to fire the person the next day. That is not how he works,” the source says.
Of late the Kabaka is known to have taken distaste to long functions. These days, the Mengo government decreed that any official function that is to be graced by the Kabaka should last for only two hours.
“Long functions bore him, nowadays,” his friend says.

Series

Next week. In our final episode, read about the challenges Kabaka Mutebi has faced during his tenure.

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