Kyabazinga marks 5 years on Busoga throne

Thousands of Busoga royalists on Friday thronged Kamira Village, Namagera Parish, Kagoma County in Jinja District to celebrate the fifth coronation anniversary of Kyabazinga (King) of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV.

The Kyabazinga, who arrived at the grounds at around 1:30pm, immediately sounded cultural royal drums to signify his presence.

Present were a delegation from cultural institutions including the Umukuka of Bamasaba, Bob Mushikori, Buganda Kingdom, which was represented by the second deputy Prime Minister, Waggwa Nsibirwa and delegates from abroad among others.

The Kyabazinga hailed the kingdom for its development, industrialization, education, technological advancement, digital transformation and support to government programmes.

"The kyabazingaship has registered tremendous success over the years due to your support and I want to thank you.

"The past five years has seen education blossom due to the cooperation between the kingdom and the schools; about 7,000 have gained access to primary, secondary and tertiary education," he said.

Adding: "Busoga is a very rich, with assets ranging from land, forestry and buildings; these can bring in enough money to facilitate the kingdom's programs, and luckily, we enjoy a good working relationship with the central government."

'Lucky' Kyabazinga

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said a lot has changed during Kyabazinga Gabula's reign, and thanked him for promoting Busoga's interest abroad.

"This delegation shows that whenever you travel abroad you promote Busoga. Those who hitherto feared speaking Lusoga are now speaking it; also during your tenure you got Miss World (Quiin Abenakyo) and recently one of your daughters (Harriet Nairuba) was elected the President Uganda North America Association," she said.

Ms Abenakyo represented Uganda at Miss World 2018 in China and was crowned Miss World Africa, becoming the first Ugandan to achieve this milestone in this annual event.

Turning to Gen Kainerugaba, Ms Kadaga said: "In Busoga when you have a friend, it's akin to the friendship of our forefathers. When one grows coffee, you also grow and share.

"Your Majesty, Gen Muhoozi is your friend and your friendship should be such that what affects one affects the other. I thank you for supporting him, working with him and speaking with him," she said.

The Jinja West Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Moses Grace Balyeku, who spoke on behalf of MPs from Busoga Sub-region, asked Gen Muhoozi to lobby for the increase in UPDF recruitment quota, saying the region has many youths who want to join the army.

Prince Gabula was elected Kyabazinga of Busoga in August 2014 following the death of Henry Wako Muloki on September 1, 2008.

Since his death, the throne has been contested between him and Prince Edward Columbus Wambuzi of Bulamogi Chiefdom, with the latter dragging him to Jinja High Court in 2014 for allegedly illegally occupying the kyabazingaship.

Prince Wambuzi was in 2012 'crowned' Kyabazinga of Busoga at a low ceremony held at Bugembe, the seat of the kingdom. Later in 2014, Prince Gabula was also installed as the new Kyabazinga at the same venue.

No judgement has been made to-date though each camp remains optimistic that justice will prevail.

Speaking in Kaliro on October 4, 2014, Prince Wambuzi reaffirmed his faith in court's ability to eject Prince Gabula from the seat. The case is before Justice Micheal Elubu.

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