ENTEBBE – As he celebrates 26 years on the throne, His Highness the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has united with cultural leaders and has bonded with different monarchs in Uganda and across Africa.
It was in 1993 July 31, when the then Ssabataka of a nearly defunct kingdom, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II was crowned the 36th Kabaka of Buganda in a colourful ceremony that was held in Naggalabi Buddo.
Kabaka Mutebi was crowned as a symbol the restoration of cultural institutions took shape in Uganda since 1966 when then Prime Minister Dr. Apollo Milton Obote abolished them. This was a major turning point for Buganda Kingdom.
Therefore His Majesty annually celebrates July 31, the day of his coronation and he is celebrating 26 years on the throne today.
During his reign, Kabaka Mutebi has kept close contact with various cultural leaders in Uganda and Africa as a whole through visiting as well as hosting them on various functions.
On this year’s 26th coronation anniversary, Kabaka invited Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the titular ruler of Sokoto in northern Nigeria as the chief guest. The Sultan arrived on Tuesday, July 30 in Uganda and he is expected to spend days in Buganda region interacting with other Buganda leaders.
On Monday, 29 Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga said that this is the second time Sultan Abubakar is visiting Kabaka Mutebi and the two are great friends.
The invitation and interaction is aimed at strengthening relationships between Buganda and Sokoto as mornachs.
In 2008, Kabaka Mutebi II, accepted the invitation to Ghana by the Asantehene to attend the nineth anniversary of his ascension to the golden stool of the Asante kingdom.
On the function, Kabaka said the relations between the Buganda and the Ashante kingdom should be strengthened. He also praised the Ashante for valuing and preserving their traditions and norms for over 3,000 years.
Kabaka urged them not to be confused by groups and individuals whose aim is to destroy monarchs.
His Magesty also urged his subjects in Buganda never to give up the fight for their kingdom, saying all would be lost if they wavered.
In return at his 25th Coronation Anniversary in 2018, Kabaka Mutebi invited Otumfour Nana Osei Tutu II (Asante Hene), the cultural leader of the Asante people in Ghana as chief guest.
Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga and other kingdom dignitaries such as Prince David Wassajja, Princess Joan Nassolo, received Asante Hene at Bulange, Mengo.
Asante Hene also spent days in Buganda interacting with His Highness and various Buganda officials one of the ways to build relationships.
The two cultural leaders also visited His Excellence Yoweri Museveni who praised them for playing a critical role in preserving traditional customs and people’s identities.
In September 2014, Kabaka Mutebi II accepted to grace the coronation of William Gabula Nadiope IV to the throne of the Kyabazinga of Busoga. He was accompanied by his fellow cultural leaders who included Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru of Tooro and Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru of Bunyoro.
All these cultural leaders graced the coronation of their fellow African monarchs which is a symbol of unity.
In June 2019, Kabaka Mutebi wrote a letter to the Omukama of Bunyoro Solomon Gafabusa congratulating him upon his 21st coronation anniversary. Kabaka noted that the relationship between Bunyoro and Buganda as Kingdoms dates back many centuries despite an attempt by colonialists to break the bond using the divide and rule policy.
He reminded his counterpart the Omukama of how illustrious leaders Kabalega and Mwanga II for Buganda and Bunyoro respectively fought the colonialists jointly.
“We remember with pride the sacrifices they made in their endeavors to retain our independence and the common fate of exile and death outside Bunyoro and Buganda,” the Kabaka Wrote adding that “it behooves us the people of Bunyoro and Buganda to emphasize what unites us and this is the foundation on which we should build a new relationship.”
In the message, Ssabasajja called upon traditional rulers to unite, saying, the most important thing for the subjects, is the unity of people concerned for the progression of the agendas of the Kingdoms.
He added that he is much aware of the tremendous challenges that the Omukama and his people of Bunyoro have set themselves to uplift the people’s standards of living.
