Busoga Kingdom has named an organising committee to oversee preparations for the 12th coronation anniversary of Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, scheduled for September 13 at Mayuge District headquarters in Bunha Chiefdom.
The committee is chaired by Richard Mafumo, the Kingdom’s head of clans, with Third Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, Lukia Isanga Nakadama, serving as co-chairperson.
Other members include Richard Waiswa Naika, who will lead the hospitality team, while Martin Tibalira and Hajji Swaibu Kitezera will serve as mobilisers.
Ivan Kiirya has been appointed to oversee finances, with other members assigned various responsibilities as preparations for the celebrations gather momentum.
Busoga Kingdom Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muvawala unveiled the committee during a media briefing at the Kingdom headquarters in Bugembe on Saturday.
Muvawala said the celebrations are intended to bring Basoga together after a politically charged period, urging subjects to put partisan politics aside and focus on the Kingdom’s unity.
“Politics is now done. We are back to normal as Basoga. Let us now put politics aside,” Muvawala said.
He said the anniversary should be treated as a cultural occasion centred on the Kyabazinga and the identity of Busoga.
“Let’s prioritise our Busoga, not politics,” he said.
Muvawala said the Kingdom will use the anniversary preparations to formalise the use of the Busoga anthem.
He said the Kingdom would work with its composer, Arthur Musulube, who has authorised efforts to rebrand and professionally record the song.
“We are setting up a superb team to establish how this song can effectively be sung,” Muvawala said.
He added that the Kingdom would pursue copyright arrangements to protect the anthem and enable Busoga to benefit from its commercial use.
“Busoga will be getting money from this song. Whoever plays it like in ringtones will be required to pay,” he said.
Muvawala also said the coronation programme would include a mass prayer, which he proposed should be led by the newly installed Bishop of Busoga Diocese, Bishop Lubaale.
“We want to have a single prayer as Busoga with our Kyabazinga,” he said.
The Premier further called for greater recognition of people who have contributed to the development of Busoga, saying their achievements should be celebrated while they are still alive.
“We have many people who have worked for Busoga. Why should we appreciate them only at burials?” he asked.
He also urged Basoga to protect their cultural values and condemned practices that undermine trust among members of the community, citing alleged demands for money from beneficiaries of Parish Development Model SACCOs in exchange for access to programme benefits.
“You find someone is in PDM SACCOs and they are asking their colleagues for money to be put on lists. Why do that to a fellow Musoga?” Muvawala asked.
Mafumo, the committee chairperson, thanked the Kyabazinga for entrusting him with the responsibility and described the anniversary as an important milestone marking 12 years since Gabula ascended to the Busoga throne.
He called on Basoga to embrace the celebrations and use the occasion to strengthen their appreciation of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
The September 13 event is expected to bring together cultural leaders, government officials, religious leaders and Basoga from across the Kingdom to commemorate the Kyabazinga’s 12 years on the throne.
