The first deputy prime minister of Buganda Kingdon – Oweekitibwa Twaha Kawaase met Kabaka’s bakungu and abaami in UK & Ireland – 24/02/2024

On Saturday 24^th February 2024, Owek. Twaha Kigongo Kawaase met Kabaka’s Bakungu and Abaami in UK & Ireland at Harris Academy, Peckham South London.

In his welcoming speech, Owek. Ssaalongo Geofrey Kibuuka – Kabaka’s Representative in UK & Ireland introduced all the bakungu and abaami present and informed Owek. Kawaase that:

• The office ok Kabaka’s Representative in UK & Ireland reaches Kabaka’s subjects in UK and Ireland via places of worship.
• To effectively reach Kabaka’s subjects residing in UK & Ireland, the country was sub-divided into 5 regions (amabendobendo) namely: South West England; East London, Anglia & Essex; North London & South Midlands; North England and Scotland. Each of these regions has a deputy for Kabaka’s Representative and a committee.
• The committee members serving in the office of Kabaka’s Representative (abakungu) and on the regional committees (abaami) have a wealth of experience in different professions in the areas of health, engineering, education, accountancy and many more.
• The main agenda for the office of Kabaka’s Representative in UK & Ireland is fostering development and togetherness.
• Kabaka’s subjects residing in UK & Ireland have answered Kabaka’s call of bearing children, the off springs have been encouraged to get educated and we are trying to teach them about Buganda and we are hopeful that they are the future of Buganda.

The Kabaka’s Representative thanked the bakungu and abaami for serving Buganda Kingdom in UK without any pay but on voluntary basis.

Owek. Twaha Kawaase’s Speech 

In his speech, Owek. Twaha Kawaase thanked abakungu and abaami for accepting the call to serve Buganda Kingdom in UK & Ireland and for attending this event in great numbers.  He said it is encouraging to meet so many of Kabaka’s bakungu and abaami in the diaspora.

Owek. Kawaase was happy to say that Ssaabasajja Kabaka the king of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is sitting on the throne and that Owek. Charles P Mayiga – Prime Minister of Buganda and Owek. Joseph Kawuki – the minster in charge of diaspora affairs sent their greetings to abakungu, abaami and all Kabaka’s subjects in UK & Ireland.

Owek. Kawaase encouraged abaami and abakungu to:

1. Use social media to follow what goes on in Buganda Kingdom. He encouraged all present to familiarise themselves with Buganda Kingdom’s 5-year strategic development plan. The current one covers the period 2023 to 2028 and has moved on from focussing on projects to programmes.
2. Information about the 5-year development plan and other Buganda Kingdom programmes is available from the second Prime Minister of Buganda – Owek. Robert W Nsibirwa or Owek. Joseph Kawuki – the minster in charge of diaspora affairs.
3. Make annual work plans based on Buganda’s strategic development plan with adaptations to suit local (diaspora) conditions.
4. To understand Buganda’s 5 Strategic Pillars; to strengthen and protect Buganda Kingdom; power sharing with the central government via federal system of governance; to liberate Buganda’s land and her territories, development and togetherness.
5. To attend meeting; those organised by the office of Kabaka’s Representative in UK & Ireland and his regional deputies and Buganda Kingdom lukiiko (parliament). “Online meetings are very convenient but in-person meetings are encouraged whenever possible. It is understandable that abakungu and abaami in the diaspora cannot always attend lukiiko sessions in person due to distance but these sessions can also be viewed on zoom” said the first deputy PM.

Owek. Kawaase informed the gathering that this year’s Kabaka’s Birthday Run will take place on 7^th April 2024.  The run will mark Kabaka’s 69^th birthday while at the same time raising money towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.  He said that Kabaka’s subjects in the diaspora can support the birthday run by giving or lending money to their relatives or friends in Uganda to buy the birthday run t-shirts which they can sell on at a 20% profit.

Owek. Kawaase thanked Buganda UK and Ireland for being the first ‘ssaza’ in the diaspora to send their annual ‘Luwalo Lwaffe’ contribution - an initiative through which Kabaka’s subjects in and outside Buganda contribute to Buganda government’s treasury.

He reminded abakungu and abaami to promote:

1. the borehole project among Kabaka’s subjects in UK & Ireland. The idea of the project is to construct boreholes in areas of Buganda where there is a shortage of water.  Each diaspora region is encouraged to fund at least 1 borehole at a cost of $6000 (£4750).
2. The One Million Project – An initiative to allow Kabaka’s subjects in the diaspora to invest in their countries of residence.

The first deputy Katikkiro said that on 14^th September 2024, Germany will be host to the first ever Buganda Convention in Europe and the next day on 15^th September 2024, the Kabaka’s Representative in UK & Ireland and his committee will be officially inaugurated.

The gathering was concluded with a question and answer session. Abakungu and abaami asked Owek. Twaha Kawaase questions on a variety of subjects challenging Buganda Kingdom including abusing Buganda Kingdom officials via social media, Kabaka Education Fund bursaries, land issues, investment in Buganda, the declining standards of Luganda language, health issues, modern slavery and others.

The video recording of this meeting will be uploaded onto Buganda UK Youtube channel.

G W Kalanzi (General Secretary – the Office of Kabaka’s Representative in UK & Ireland