Guests at the Buganda UK dinner 2023
On Saturday 25th November 2023, more than 400 Kabaka’s subjects and their friends residing in the UK and Ireland attended the 7th Buganda Dinner (UK) in Coliseum Suite, Ilford, East London.
The function was organised by Kabaka’s Deputy Representative for East London, Anglia and Essex region and his team assisted by Bakungu from the office of Kabaka’s Representative in the UK and Ireland.
Olukiiko lwo. Omubaka in the UK and Ireland (And Guests at the function)
This was the second year running for the Buganda Dinner to be held outside central London with the intention of taking the event to the different regions (mabendobendo) in the UK and Ireland.
Commissioning East London, Anglia and Essex Committee.
In May 2023 the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Mutebi II made leadership changes at various levels. Among the changes made here in the UK and Ireland, Kabaka replaced Ow’ek Ronald Lutaaya with Ow’ek Ssaalongo Geoffrey Kibuuka as his Representative and appointed Mukungu Godfrey Sekisonge as the Deputy in charge of East London, Anglia and Essex. During this year’s Buganda Dinner, the East London, Essex committee was commissioned by Owek. Kibuuka.
Commissioned East London Lukiiko (In blue Commissioned East London Lukiiko)
The previous and the current kabaka's representative
Special Guests
Among others, the function was attended by Owe’k Ronald Lutaaya – former Kabaka’s Representative in the UK and Ireland, Daisy Byaruhanga - the Representative of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Nnaalinya Elizabeth Nakabiri, Buganda royals residing in the UK, the Representatives of Buganda Clan leaders in UK and Ireland, Kabaka’s deputy representatives in charge of Manchester & Midlands, Southwest England, and North London together with their committee members.
Ssaalongo Faustin Lukonge Mukambwe - Mayor of Mityana Municipal Council and the honorary Pope’s guard – Mr Kasozi Mulindwa and his wife came all the way from Uganda to attend this function.
In addition to Ugandans, the annual dinner was also attended by local politicians: Sir Stephen Timms - MP for East Ham.
Sir Stephen Timms - MP East Ham
Councilor James Asser – Deputy Mayor for Newham, Mw Unmesh Desai – London Assembly Member for City and East, Lakmini Shah – Councilor for East Ham South Ward and Mr Martin Pinder - Honorary Secretary, Newham Partnership for Complimentary Education in the London Borough of Newham.
Ssaalongo Faustin Mukambwe - Mayor of Mityana Municipal Council was one of the guests
Kabaka’s Representative’s Speech
In his speech, Kabaka’s Representative in the UK and Ireland - Ow’ek. Ssaalongo Geoffrey Kibuuka thanked all those who managed to attend the dinner and reminded them of the significance of holding the Buganda Dinner in November. King Edward Muteesa II was born, got married, was exiled, and passed away during the month of November. We hold the Buganda Annual Dinner in November to celebrate the life of King Edward Muteesa II.
Ow’ek Kibuuka thanked Owe’k Lutaaya and the team of Bakungu he worked with during their term for all they accomplished during their term in office including the implementation of mabendobendo (regional offices), starting Kabaka’s Birthday run in the UK among other accomplishments.
Owek. Ssaalongo G Kibuuka's Speech
Ow’ek. Kibuuka reiterated that the theme for his office is to strengthen togetherness and to foster development among Kabaka’s subjects residing in the UK and Ireland. Under this theme, particular attention will initially be given to the following.
Tackling challenges (such as knife crime) faced by our children especially those born in UK and Ireland.
Engaging our youth – these are our future leaders.
Dealing with the aftereffects of Covid-19 and loneliness among adults living on their own.
Identifying and linking skilled people in our community.
Kibuuka said that his office is in the advanced stages of introducing two projects that he and his team believe will improve the quality of lives of Kabaka’s subjects residing in the UK and Ireland:
Buganda Bereavement Fund – to help with funeral costs and/or facilitate repatriation of bodies of our beloved to the motherland.
Buganda UK Twezimbe – a way for Kabaka’s subjects residing in the UK and Ireland to invest in the country they find themselves in.
Ow’ek. Ssaalongo Kibuuka encouraged everyone to use official channels such as www.gambuuze.ug, www.bugandauk.com, UK Buganda Amasunsule WhatsApp group as their source of authentic news about Buganda.
Kabaka’s representative and other guests cutting the cake
Owe’k Joseph Kawuki’s Speech
In his message read by the function main MC - Mukungu Revd Enock Kiyaga, Owe’k Joseph Kawuki (Minister of Local Government, Kabaka's Tours and Diaspora Affairs) sent his and Katikkiro C P Mayiga’s apologies for not being able to attend this function due to their prior arranged work schedules.
Ow’ek. Kawuki requested Kabaka’s subjects in the UK and Ireland to support Kabaka’s Representative’s programmes and those of Buganda Kingdom. He thanked former Kabaka’s Representative - Ow’ek. Lutaaya and his team of Bakungu for all the work they managed to accomplish during their time in office.
Owe’k Kawuki concluded his speech by reminding Ssaabasajja’s subjects in the diaspora of the following obligations:
To support the ‘Luwalo Lwaffe’ initiative – where communities give or donate to Buganda.
To support borehole projects in Buganda and
To start the ‘One Million Project' – an initiative to allow Kabaka’s subjects in the diaspora to invest in their countries of residence.
Buganda Dinner (UK) 2024
Owe’k Kibuuka concluded his speech by announcing that the format for the 8th Buganda Dinner (UK) will be slightly different from the past 7. Buganda Dinner (UK) 2024 will be held over two days in Birmingham, in November 2024.
Muk. Sekisonge akwasa Muk Kiyaga bbendera ya Buganda okulaga nti eky'egulo kya Buganda UK ekya 2024 kya kubeera mu Birmingham ( Bendobendo Manchester)
Entertainment by ACD Arts
The feedback from those who attended was that this was the best Buganda Dinner they have ever attended.