Joyce Namugambe
Baganda have been filled with joy as they recieved their King His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi the II on His 30th Anniversary celebrations in the palace.
The fateful day started when the King got into the Palace and moved around the gifts being donated to him by the Baganda which later turned into the Amakula. He was then welcomed by the Katikkiro of Buganda Owek Charles Peter Mayiga who led him to the drums called the Mujaguzo and then was moved around his people.
When He sat on the throne, the function officially started with prayers which were led by the Archbishop of Kampala Diocese Paul Ssemwogerere, who asked God to continue protecting His Majesty Kabaka Mutebi though the waves as he leads His people. He was being accompanied by other religious leaders such as the Anglican Bishops, led by Bishop Katumba Tamale of Masaka Diocese, Bishop Enos Kitto Kagodo of Mukono Diocese, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church His Eminence Leronymos Muzeeyi, representatives from the Muslim fraternity among others.
In His speech to the congregation, His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi the II said that in the Bible, Jesus started His service at 30 years therefore, the Kings making 30 years on the throne means Buganda is just starting its service. The King has shown concern over the people who are taken abroad for the sake of working yet they are mistreated and many have lost their lives.
He commended those people who stood with the Kingdom and fought to see that Buganda regains it’s throne after 27 years its abolishment by the former rule Milton Obote in 1966, and many of them died in the process. He said those people worked hard to see that the Kingdom regains it’s prestige and urged the present Baganda to keep the candle burning.
The Kabaka has also advised the youth not to sell their land for urban migration.
In the same way, the Katikkiro of Buganda Owek Charles Peter Mayiga has appreciated the Almighty God for the gift of life He has granted His Majesty, and arged the Baganda to continue upholding Buganda’s 5 pillars to help develop Buganda.
Owek. Mayiga has revealed the achievements His Majesty has led to the Kingdom ever since He took control over the throne noting, Buganda land board, bukadef, Lubiri high school, Buganda Royal institute and Muteesa 1 royal university, Nabagereka development Foundation, Namulondo investments, K2 Telecom, Majestic brands, Werinde insurance services among others, which have helped to reduce the rate of unemployment among the youth in the country through availing job opportunities.
The speaker for the Baganda bataka Omutaka Augustine Kizito Mutumba has reported to the King the increasing rate of indiscipline and heartlessness in the country, where people set the schools on fire and kill pupils and students, people who grab other people’s belongings, disrespect leading to conflicts, corruption among others, which he says can be reduced if people go back to respect their cultures and norms.
The Baganda have donated many gifts to the King including cows, goats, hens, fruits and vegetables, matooke, rice, flour, wheat, cooking oil and others. And the cash gifts include 40 million shillings donated by MPs and 24 million shillings donated by Kabaka’s friends from outside Uganda.
Among the guests at this function were MPs, ministers from both Buganda government and the central government religious leaders, schools, former Buganda vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Buganda chiefs, guests from outside Uganda, among others.
