A pivotal meeting held at the Kyabazinga’s official palace at Igenge, Jinja City, was attended by numerous children of Busoga Kingdom holding various positions in government. The aim of the meeting was to strategize on how to utilize their public offices to develop the Kingdom.
“We should work together by utilizing our different positions in public service to benefit Busoga Kingdom and the country at large,” Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV urged public servants of Busoga origin.
He also reminded them that they obtained their positions through merit, so they should never underestimate themselves while executing their duties. He cited examples of Basoga such as the current ED of KCCA, Hajjat Sharifa Buzeki, and her deputy, Mr. Benon Kigenyi, who had to prove their competence through hard work, bringing pride to Busoga.
The Kyabazinga also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to Basoga serving in public offices for their support of the Kyabazinga Royal Wedding, which took place in 2023. They managed to contribute Ug Shs 120 million.
The Kyabazinga was pleased with the attendance of all invited guests. He therefore urged Basoga to broaden their network, noting that some worked in the same ministries but were unaware that they shared the same heritage. The Kyabazinga called on Basoga to always help and support one another because they are brothers and sisters from the same roots.
Busoga, as an island, is surrounded by water bodies like the River Nile, Lake Victoria, and Lake Kyoga, among others. The region is naturally endowed with minerals, a favorable climate, and fertile soils, many of which have yet to be properly utilized. The Kyabazinga reminded the Basoga of their responsibility to harness these resources and develop Busoga through lobbying for support from financial institutions or private investments, which would offer job opportunities and improve infrastructure in various sectors.
The Kyabazinga promised to strengthen ties with anyone willing to support the Kingdom through his initiative, “Kyabazinga Initiative,” and also announced that the dinner with public servants would become an annual event at the Igenge Palace to discuss matters of importance to the Kingdom. It will be added to the Busoga Kingdom calendar.
The Katukilo of Busoga Kingdom, Owek. Joseph Muvawala Nsekele, thanked the Kyabazinga for entrusting him with power and authority in Busoga Kingdom for the past eleven years. He also praised the idea of dining with Basoga public servants annually, which would help him in executing his duties in the best interest of the Kingdom.
The Katukilo expressed his gratitude to those who had persistently supported the Kingdom over time, contributing to the recognition Busoga now enjoys in Uganda and around the world. He noted that despite fierce competition for jobs and resources, the sons and daughters of Busoga have continually proven their competitiveness and worthiness for opportunities in government, as they always meet the required academic qualifications. He also highlighted Basoga like Hajjat Sharifa Buzeki and Mr. Benon Kigenyi, the current Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), as examples of successful Busoga public servants.
Owek. Osman Noor Ahmed, the second Deputy Katukilo of Busoga Kingdom, reminded Basoga of the importance of attracting partnerships with countries and organizations that can help develop the Kingdom and efficiently utilize the available resources for their benefit. He cited MTN Uganda as an example, as the company has supported sports in the Kingdom by being the biggest sponsor of the Busoga Masaza Cup Tournament, which unites Basoga through football. He urged for more partnerships to benefit Busoga in similar ways.
Owek. Osman also shared with the Kyabazinga that the Kingdom has trained over 30,000 youths in different technical skills through the Gabula Royal Foundation. He credited the Foundation’s Executive Director, Owek. Imaka Isaac, and his team for their tremendous work.
He also expressed his deep gratitude to various schools, such as Jinja College, which tirelessly offer bursaries to bright but disadvantaged sons and daughters of Busoga, granting them the opportunity to acquire quality education.
He further appreciated the government of Uganda and the private sector for their efforts in improving the Kingdom’s tourism sector through the renovation and construction of structures like the Nile Pier at the Source of the Nile, which is currently under construction, and the infrastructure at Kagulu Rock, which the government has promised to improve in the near future, along with privately-owned structures. These initiatives have significantly boosted the development of tourism sites, attracting more tourists, generating foreign exchange, and providing job opportunities to locals.
Mr. Benon Kigenyi, the Deputy ED of KCCA, thanked the Kyabazinga for always leading efforts toward development and prosperity in the Kingdom. He also thanked all the public servants who attended the dinner with the Kyabazinga and called upon others to embrace the event in the future, as it will help bring together efforts to move the Kingdom forward.
Lastly, Owek. Babirye Hidaya, the Minister for Kyabazinga Affairs, thanked all the guests in various capacities for their love and support of their Kingdom, especially for their contribution to the Kyabazinga Royal Wedding, which remains a symbol of Busoga pride.
