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JINJA - Inhebantu (Busoga queen) Jovia Mutesi has made her first appearance before the public since she was wedded to Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV late last year.

During the inaugural appearance, the queen hosted various dignitaries from across the country to a luncheon at Kyabazinga's Igenge Palace in Jinja city on Friday.

By 9:00am local time, guests clad in traditional Busoga wear in kanzu (tunic), and women in gomesi started making their way to Igenge.

They included ministers from the central government, LC leaders, Resident District Commissioners, cultural leaders, Busoga royal chiefs, and members of Neyendeire Development Initiative championed by KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka.

At the event, guests were treated to a cocktail of both food and entertainment. Busoga local musicians like Adogomola, Acidic Vokoz, and Cillicon Avokoz, among others.

Traditional dancers from Nile Beat also kept guests entertained at the event that was at Igenge Palace.

Inhebantu Mutesi was in the company of Kyabazinga Nadiope and members of the royal family.

Executive Committee members of Neyendeire Development Initiative led by their champion and also KCCA's Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka (C) with Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV (3rd R) and Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi (2nd R) at Igenge Palace on Friday. (All Photos by Donald Kiirya)

Busoga Kingdom officials including Katuukiro (premier) Dr Joseph Muvawala Nsekere, his second deputy Alhaj Osman Ahmed Noor, and other ministers were also present.

Prior to the luncheon, Mutesi started the day with a visit to a garden within the palace where she planted sweet potato vines and also harvested a bunch of matooke.

She was later led to the tent where she showcased various responsibilities of a Musoga wife in a home which included showing women how to peel matooke, sweet potatoes, sorting ground nuts, and pounding them in a motor in the traditional way.

After the demonstration, Inhebantu walked back into the palace and later came out in the company of the Kyabazinga and sat in the royal tent.

Stick to culture

The Inhebantu told the guests that despite changes in the world, the Basoga have cultural norms they need to stick to.

These, according to her, include exercising good family leadership, growing food and securing it in granaries after harvest, practicing sanitation and hygiene, setting up a tent (Ekigangu) in a courtyard where one can meet visitors, having basic farm tools in a home like a hoe, a traditional kitchen, having discipline at home and being mindful of what they say and avoiding abusive language.

She also urged the Basoga to put more emphasis on fighting for their traditional norms and cultural values in order to continue developing in their areas.

Royal Chiefs led by their chairperson Samuel Zirabamuzale Menhya (L) at the Neyendeire event at Igenge Palace on Friday.

She appreciated the Government-owned Uganda Hotel &Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) for the support it has rendered to Busoga Kingdom and revealed that ObwaKyabazinga Bwa Busoga institution is going to work in partnership with UHTTI to train girls in cooking traditional Kisoga food, catering, Pastry and bakery.

She was happy after being appointed Patron of the Neyendeire Development Initiative.

Nadiope IV, mostly appreciated development partners who supported them during the Busoga Royal wedding starting with Central government led by President Yoweri Museveni, schools, higher institutions, media houses, government security agencies, support from different Kingdoms, and various clans in Busoga.

He also appreciated the Busoga Health Forum (BHF) for treating over 10,000 people during the health camps that were organised ahead of the Busoga Royal wedding event.

Members of the Neyendeire Development Initiative championed by Kisaka donated gifts to the Kyabazinga and Inhebantu. 

Fr. Richard Kayaga of the Cultural Research Centre also donated books written in Lusoga to the Kyabazinga.