Besigye ‘crowned’ at Kasubi
Jan 13, 2006
FDC presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye was on Thursday decorated with royal regalia at the historical Kasubi tombs and urged to restore Buganda’s glory when he takes the reigns of power.
By Cyprian Musoke
FDC presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye was on Thursday decorated with royal regalia at the historical Kasubi tombs and urged to restore Buganda’s glory when he takes the reigns of power.
In a ceremony performed by Omusajja wa Kabaka (king’s courtier) Samuel Mbabaali, Besigye was given a spear, a shield and adorned in barkcloth, to symbolise the handing over of reigns of power to him.
The ceremony was punctuated with incantations from Mbabaali and others who wore white Kanzus, Buganda’s ceremonial tunic, invoking the gods of Buganda to bestow victory upon Besigye so he can defeat President Museveni.
They said Museveni had for long denied Buganda what is rightfully theirs.
“We have given you these items to give you strength so that you can go and traverse the entire country and gain victory, such that you can help us also achieve what they have denied us for a long time,†Mbabaali said amid cheers.
Addressing a rally convened to welcome Rubaga North FDC parliamentary candidate Beti Kamya from nominations, Besigye thanked the mammoth crowd for the support.
There was drama when President Museveni, who was headed for Kiboga district, accosted the crowd that was enthusiastically awaiting Besigye, and they thwarted his attempts to address them twice.
“Mzee, you can drive on because we are waiting for our president. We are sweeping this road for him, and not you,†the fans yelled, waving Besigye placards at Museveni.
Museveni twice stood out of his Benz’s roof-top and tried to calm the supporters, all in vain.
FDC presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye was on Thursday decorated with royal regalia at the historical Kasubi tombs and urged to restore Buganda’s glory when he takes the reigns of power.
In a ceremony performed by Omusajja wa Kabaka (king’s courtier) Samuel Mbabaali, Besigye was given a spear, a shield and adorned in barkcloth, to symbolise the handing over of reigns of power to him.
The ceremony was punctuated with incantations from Mbabaali and others who wore white Kanzus, Buganda’s ceremonial tunic, invoking the gods of Buganda to bestow victory upon Besigye so he can defeat President Museveni.
They said Museveni had for long denied Buganda what is rightfully theirs.
“We have given you these items to give you strength so that you can go and traverse the entire country and gain victory, such that you can help us also achieve what they have denied us for a long time,†Mbabaali said amid cheers.
Addressing a rally convened to welcome Rubaga North FDC parliamentary candidate Beti Kamya from nominations, Besigye thanked the mammoth crowd for the support.
There was drama when President Museveni, who was headed for Kiboga district, accosted the crowd that was enthusiastically awaiting Besigye, and they thwarted his attempts to address them twice.
“Mzee, you can drive on because we are waiting for our president. We are sweeping this road for him, and not you,†the fans yelled, waving Besigye placards at Museveni.
Museveni twice stood out of his Benz’s roof-top and tried to calm the supporters, all in vain.