On the 3rd of November (Musenene) 2018, Ssabasajja Kabaka of Buganda established and launched a County (Esaza) in Dubai which was to be led by Sheikh Abbas Nsubuga.
This was done in a bid to develop the tradition, culture, and norms of Buganda and also to recognize the Baganda people living in Dubai. Today, a ceremony has been organized to celebrate their first anniversary since the establishment and launch of Buganda County in Dubai.
The ceremony was graced by Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, officials from Mengo and the Central Government, Baganda in UAE, nationals of UAE and many others. Several speeches were made before Nnabagereka gave her address.
One of the speakers said "The efforts of the Katikiro of Buganda of transforming the Buganda Kingdom to regain back its glory also includes the development discipline. This is one of the issues our Nnabagereka strives to improve and it is noted that the very aspect of discipline earned our great grandparents respect because Buganda at that time was more developed than UAE”.
Ugandans living in Dubai during the event revealed some of the achievements and what lies ahead of them. Another speaker noted that having realized that disunity would hinder development, they thought it wise to be united in this kind of set-up and that differences should be external, not internal.
The youth were urged to strive hard to develop themselves as this has been the motto to grow development as an individual, in Buganda and in Uganda at large.
Recruitment agencies taking labourers to UAE were urged to have transparency in their processes and reduce on the fees charged to avoid hurdles faced when prospective labourers are fed with lies.
The Chairman of Buganda Twezimbe Don Fred Kiyimba Freeman called upon the youth in Dubai to be disciplined, trustworthy and responsible in the country. He said "Back in Uganda, I employ more than 3,000 people, but the only aspect we have consistently got problems with is in the discipline of the youth”.
He went on to say that they had developed rules and regulations such as arrival time at work. However, this was often flouted by the youth who could arrive late at work and when challenged about this by their supervisor or manager, they would respond as they wished. He noted this was due to lack of respect for their jobs. He noted that no one would retain a job without discipline.
Mwami Kiyimba also noted that utilizing time very well helps a person to develop early and that the most productive time for a person is between the ages of 25 and 40 years. Those who don't use these 15 years very well will go on to regret. “You actually begin regretting the moment you clock 40 years and see your age mates with establishments like houses they stay in, having built apartments/rentals that provide them an income of about 2 million shillings. But you forget that you spent much of your time in unnecessary quarrels and fights, and so I encourage you to use your time very well."
The Chairman of the Buganda Caucus Hon. Ssenyonga encouraged the people of Buganda in the diaspora not to waste their money in unproductive ways. "A rich man is one who makes money and spends it only in avenues where he slept thinking about, not spending because he has seen someone else spend. Such a person also economizes when it comes to money, bearing in mind that one has to work on this earth as though you will never depart it.”
He concluded by urging those in the diaspora that when they return to Uganda, they should only spend on things they come prepared to spend on, noting that it’s also likely that such persons who freely spend seem to have improper ways through which they acquired their wealth." Later on, Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda gave her address.