 Thousands of people royal to the Buganda King, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II converged on the Kabaka's Palace at Mengo to join him in celebrating the 16th anniversary of his coronation.
Amidst pomp and grandeur, the celebrations, mainly attended by the youth in Buganda , flocked to the palace to thank God for the Kingdom's development since it was restored in 1993 by the present regime of Yoweri Museveni.
Unlike many others in the past, this year's event was a thanksgiving and prayer platform uniting all religious denominations in the country to pray for the Kingdom amidst the various difficult challenges for the monarchy. These include abject poverty, the land bill and the extension of Kampala City , a move viewed by many in Buganda as a clandestine manoeuvre to grab Buganda 's land.
The event was attended, among others, by members of the royal family, members of 'Lukiiko' (parliament) and Buganda government Ministers. Uganda 's Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya joined them as well as leaders of political parties and Buganda Region Members of Parliament led by Ms Rose Namayanja. Also present were the kingdom's county chiefs, friends and sympathizers.
Bishop Kakooza (Roman Catholic Church) Rev. Kajja ( Adventist Church ), Bishop Wilberforce Luwalira ( Church of Uganda ), Supreme Mufti Sheikh Zubairi Kayongo, represented Uganda 's religious leaders while the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, the Rt Rev Wilberforce Luwalira, represented the Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda and Boga Zaire , the Rt Rev Luke Orombi. Retired Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo and Bishop Dunstan Bukenya blessed the celebrations.
On behalf of the government, Vice President Bukenya (also a clan leader in the Ngabi (deer) clan, thanked the Kabaka for his exemplary leadership. He recognized the monarch for treating all his subjects equally irrespective of their political inclination. He thanked him for spearheading development projects in the Buganda Kingdom and commended him for assisting the central government in this regard.
Over the past few weeks, Prof Bukenya has been a subject of press attacks for his role in the stalemate between the Kingdom and the Central government. Buganda 's Katikkiro (Prime Minister). John Bosco Walusimbi thanked God for helping the Kabaka through these trying times. He urged the Baganda to support the kingdom and to remain united under these turbulent times. Buganda cabinet minister for women, Appolonia Mugumbya, thanked the Kabaka for this year's theme of development through agriculture. She called upon the Baganda to fight deforestation and underhand fishing methods.
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Its Federal or the bullet!! (1)
