PICTURES: Kyabazinga marks 11 years on Busoga throne

JINJA - Thousands on Saturday (September 13) thronged Busoga Kingdom's headquarters at Bugembe in Jinja district to commemorate the 11th coronation anniversary of His Royal Highness William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV.  

The excitement was doubled this year: Just weeks ago, the royal couple, the Kyabazinga and his wife, Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi, welcomed twin princes. For many Basoga, it felt like a blessing not only for the royal family, but for the kingdom itself.

The coronation anniversary celebrations were marked under the theme: 'A Malaria Free Busoga for Generations to Come'.

Invited dignitaries included different VIPs from various government entities, friends and well-wishers, plus Uganda's Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.

His Royal Highness, the Kyabazinga, William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV greets Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja upon her arrival at Igenge Palace. (All Photos by Donald Kiirya)

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, and the Minister of the Presidency, Milly Babiryey Babalanda as they arrived for the function.

Nabbanja is greeted and welcomed by Prince Arnold Nadiope at Igenge Palace upon her arrival.

From orphan to king

The story of William Gabula Nadiope IV is not just about crowns and ceremonies.

It is also the story of resilience. Born on November 1, 1988, in the heart of Jinja, he is the son of the late Wilson Gabula Nadiope II and Josephine Nadiope, who died when he was still young. 

Without even school fees, he struggled through childhood, often teased by classmates for his worn-out clothes. Yet those tough years forged a toughness that has defined his leadership.

Behind the boy who once knew hunger and loss was a great-grandson of Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope I — a man who once held the Kyabazinga’s throne.

The whispers of that legacy were in him, but it was his own hard work and determination that brought him to the palace.

He studied hard, completing his elementary studies at Busoga College Mwiri and later degree honours at Kyambogo University in 2011. He also earned an MBA from Coventry University in the UK.

His education sharpened him not just for survival, but for leadership.

A throne in turbulence

When Gabula ascended the throne in 2014, Busoga was deeply divided. Rival clans — like Bugweri and Bugabula — were locked in endless disputes, tearing at the seams of the kingdom.

Disunity stalled progress, and Busoga risked losing its place among Uganda’s proud cultural kingdoms. At just 25, Gabula stepped forward as a unifying figure.

The Minister of the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during the 11th Kyabazinga Coronation Anniversary.

Several religious clerics are in attendance.

On September 13, 2014, at Christ Cathedral in Bugembe, he was enthroned in a ceremony led by the Omukama of Bunyoro, Solomon Iguru I. That day, many Busoga kingdom followers said, was unforgettable.

Drummers pounded like the River Nile’s rapids. Dancers whirled to the captivating beats of Tamenaibuga. Elders chanted ancient Lusoga blessings, hoping to steady the kingdom’s future.

And then came Gabula’s words: “One Busoga.” It was both a plea and a promise, and it became his guiding vision.

The royals

A vision to mend his kingdom. In the 11 years since, Gabula has worked to turn that vision into reality. His leadership has been steady, blending tradition with modern ambition. Where there was division, he has pushed for dialogue.

Where there was doubt, he has modelled resilience. For many, this anniversary is more than a marker of time. It is proof that Busoga, once threatened by disunity, has found new strength in its Kyabazinga — a leader who rose from humble beginnings to carry the weight of a kingdom.

The kingdom has even lived up to its name — Kyabazinga (unity). Under Gabula’s reign, the victories stack high — like the proud mivule trees that tower over Busoga’s landscape.

Kyabazinga leaves Igege Palace, en route to Busoga Kingdom headquarters at Bugembe, to mark his 11th Coronation Anniversary.

Kyabazinga, upon arrival at Busoga Kingdom headquarters at Bugembe for his 11th Coronation Anniversary.

At the top is unity. Once-feuding clans now sit side by side at communal feasts. Where grudges once festered, laughter and shared songs now fill the air. Economic empowerment has taken root too.

The Kyabazinga has rallied his people to tap into government programmes designed to boost household incomes.

In the villages, women’s co-operatives are alive with activity — hands weaving baskets and crafts that find their way to global markets, turning art into earnings. Education, once a patchy dream, is sprouting steadily.

Kyabazinga greets his subjects

New schools stand along dusty tracks that once led nowhere. Boreholes and water pumps bubble in thirsty communities.

Youth energy is being channelled into talent and teamwork through initiatives like the Kyabazinga 7s rugby tournament, which has become a rallying point for young people to dream beyond the ordinary.

On the health front, the king has not shied away from difficult conversations. Campaigns against teenage pregnancies have rallied fathers, brothers and leaders to shield girls from early motherhood.

The Kyabazinga waves at his subjects as he arrived at Busoga Kingdom headquarters to mark his 11th Coronation Anniversary.

Last year, Gabula was named the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDs (UNAIDS) Goodwill Ambassador, giving him a global platform to push HIV awareness and link health to culture and responsibility.

The Kyabazinga’s personal achievements have also become communal symbols of hope. In May this year, he graduated from Yale University with a Master of Advanced Studies in Global Affairs — his second master’s degree.

For many Basoga youth, it was proof that the world’s doors swing open to determination and resilience.

His commitment has not gone unnoticed; this year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Busoga College Mwiri old boys for his dedication to education and culture.

And through it all, he has remained a guardian of heritage — preserving Busoga’s dances, language and rites that stitch generations together.

KCCA's Deputy ED Benon Kigenyi (C) greets His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos Muzeeyi, the Archbishop of the Uganda Orthodox Church.

 The Minister of the Presidency, Milly Babiryey Babalanda greets His Eminence Metropolitan Jeronymos Muzeeyi, the Archbishop of the Uganda Orthodox Church.

His Royal Highness, the Kyabazinga, William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja upon her arrival at Igenge Palace.

Busoga Kingdom's Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muvawala Nsekere chatting with his 2nd deputy at the Kyabazinga 11th Coronation Anniversary event at the Kingdom headquarters.

The road ahead  

No reign is free from shadows. Busoga’s progress under Gabula still wrestles with deep-rooted challenges. 

Poverty remains widespread, dragging down families with low literacy rates and preventable diseases. 

Teenage pregnancies continue to claim girls as young as 13, cutting short childhoods and binding communities to cycles of hardship.

Several dignitaries are in attendance.

Different VIPs arriving for Kyabazinga 11th Coronation Anniversary.

Education gaps remain glaring. Some classrooms crumble for lack of care, while teachers are too few for the swelling numbers of eager learners.

Land issues add to the strain — without proper land titles, many families live with the constant fear of land grabs, sparking conflicts that echo the kingdom’s old clan rivalries.

Politics, too, sometimes muddies the waters. Rumours and rifts within leadership circles occasionally test the unity Gabula has fought to build. Nature has also dealt harsh blows.

Floods from the Nile often sweep away crops, while rapid urbanisation pulls youth into towns, leaving ancestral villages hollow and traditions fragile.

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