Some of the participants at the Women’s Conference in Sweden
Hajjat Mariam Nkalubo Mayanja, the Minister for Gender in the Buganda Kingdom, delivered a keynote address at the recent Women’s and Children’s Conference, urging attendees to cultivate dignity and cultural identity, starting within the home. The conference, held under the theme “Strong Families and Unity — Pillars of Development”, brought together members of the Buganda community in Scandinavia to address the challenges of preserving heritage while living abroad.
Minister Mayanja emphasized that the foundation of a strong community is the integrity of its family units. “Everything we do, the image we present to others and in our work, begins at home,” she stated. “It is very important to ensure that families live with dignity. And dignity does not come by chance; every member of the household must work for it.”
While highlighting the pivotal role of women in setting the tone for a household, Minister Mayanja identified key pillars for a dignified home: good communication, mutual respect, cleanliness, and a commitment to hard work.
She also stressed the home’s role as a child’s first school, where “values are strengthened, culture and traditions are passed on, and the national language is taught.”
The Kabaka’s representative was officially inaugurated as County Chief in Kyaggwe.
Building on this theme, Minister Mayanja spoke of shared responsibility, noting that a stable family requires a strong partnership between spouses.
“True dignity involves everyone in the home,” she explained, “recognizing each other’s abilities, sharing responsibilities, and supporting one another in all situations.”
When families are stable, she argued, communities thrive, contributing to a more stable world.
Addressing the unique challenges faced by the diaspora in Sweden, the Minister acknowledged the difficulty of cultural preservation.
“It is not easy to remain rooted in your traditions while living in another culture,” she conceded, citing the specific challenge of teaching children Luganda in a predominantly Swedish-speaking environment.
“We must make the effort: speak it, look for books, and in this era of technology, we can easily find online resources that teach Luganda.”
Minister Mayanja concluded that despite cultural differences, core human virtues must be upheld. She listed respect, courtesy, truthfulness, honesty, and leadership as universal values that transcend borders and are essential for raising well-rounded individuals.
The conference also featured remarks from Dr. Sarah Nkonge Muwonge, Chairperson of the Buganda Women’s Convention. Dr. Muwonge urged parents to actively teach their children about their heritage, including their clans and kingdom history, and to bestow Baganda names to foster a strong sense of identity.
The event was a vibrant display of culture in action, with youth and children showcasing traditional food preparation, games, songs, and readings in Luganda, demonstrating a living commitment to the values discussed by the speakers.