Pomp and colour as the King of Buganda throws week-long birthday bash

 Photo: Courtesy

Some of us are still recovering from the weeklong celebrations of the king’s birthday. The Kabaka of Buganda, which is one of the kingdoms in the Republic of Uganda, turned 61 last week though I am not sure exactly on which day. Royals’ birthday celebrations tend to last several days.

Back to my hangover: King Ronald Mutebi II spent many years being known as Prince Ronnie because since his dad, the former king of Buganda died in 1969, it was not possible for Ronnie to ascend to the throne for a while due to the political instability prevailing at the time.

He only managed to get crowned in 1993, after two major wars had been fought over his kingdom and in the wider republic. His kingdom is legally only cultural not political.

King Ronnie had to wait so long to ascend to his throne and no wonder God has granted him such a long life. Yes, he holds the record as the longest living king of the seven centuries old kingdom. Other Kings mostly died in their thirties, and you cannot blame the guys – they spent most of their time fighting.

Of the 37 Kabaka’s, 35 had to fight to expand the kingdom. One unlucky king called Mwanga II – that’s the dude that executed the Uganda Martyrs - spent all his reign fighting to stop the colonial take over, but even then, he managed to expand the kingdom by one county.

Church bishops

Only his son Chwa who succeeded him while still an infant did not fight any war because he was a baby and the British installed him after deposing his father knowing he could not fight.

His son, Edward Mutesa, went to the best schools in Uganda and England and served in the Queen’s army, before becoming the country’s first president in 1963.

But he had to fight for his life, one man against a battalion, in 1966 when the central government forces attacked his palace. He escaped and died in exile three years later.

There was a lull and his son joined the rebel guerrillas who fought for five years and took power in 1986; he was not a combatant but he mobilized support for the war, and was finally reinstated on his father’s throne in 1993.

To understand the ecstasy of the ordinary people at Ronnie’s birthday, consider this. The Anglican Church of Uganda is virtually the kingdom faith, and the Kabaka is one of its pillars.

But four years ago, when he got a son with a woman who is not his officially wedded wife, the church bishops were ecstatic and thanked God for the blessings.

The Catholic bishops also could not hide their excitement. You thought Christian/ church authorities would defend monogamy! Now you know why some of us are still celebrating his birthday.