In praise of Kabaka Mutebi

By Elvis Basudde Kyeyune For those who have been wondering where chief Abdu Kabugo, popularly known as Omusajja wa Kabaka, had disappeared to, well, he bounced back on the music scene last weekend. Kabugo is the first Ugandan crooner to grab Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s prestigious tittle of Ow’omuluka (parish chief), after belting out a traditional song that touched the Kabaka’s heart. Kabugo during a musical gala at the Nakivubo Stadium where Mutebi was chief guest in 1999, sang a song, Kabaka Mwali which led Mutebi to sermon him and announce that he had made him Omuluka. Mutebi asked for a re-play of the song. The song, congratulates Baganda on having their kingdom restored and king enthroned. The song also hails Baganda for having preserved their culture despite the political turmoil that existed in the past. Ever since Kabugo was accorded the accolade, he had been off stage till last Sunday. He told his fans that he had gone into hiding because he was busy ‘cooking’ a song that would appropriately thank the Kabaka for the award. Nzize okwebaza omuluka gwange (I have come to say thank you for the title), is the title of Kabugo’s new song that he launched last Sunday at the Happyland Theatre in Kibuye, in Kampala. He dedicated the song to Mutebi. “Who am I to receive the greatest honour from the king? Who am I to be given Omuluka and to have had a royal hand-shake? It was like a dream come true,” Kabugo told the revellers during the launch. The song is all praise for Mutebi. It describes how Kabugo felt when he was summoned by the kabaka to be rewarded. Kabugo is now the parish chief for Bunamwaya. In a spirit of solidarity, a collection of some of the finest local musi- cians flanked Kabugo, to show share his happiness to be recognised by the kabaka. They included Ronald Mayinja, Paul Kafeero and Willy Mukaabya among others, The event was also characterised by the passing out of 54 musicians by Buganda local govern- ment minister Kamala Kanamwangi. The musi cians were trained for a year at the Demonstration School of Music, Ndeeba by Kafeero, Lord Fred Sebatta, Muk-aabya and Kabu-go.