Nabagereka Gives Birth To Baby Girl

By Josephine Maseruka "UNTO us a child is born" many Baganda chanted yesterday after Mengo announced that Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda had given birth to a princess in London. Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogerere's radio announcement at 2:30pm on the Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) ended months of anxiety and speculation which dominated talk on the Nnabagereka's pregnancy. "At 11:05 GMT (1:05pm E.A. time) a princess was born in Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London, a press statement by the Katikkiro said. Keith Edmonds, Nnabagereka's gynaecologist led a big team of experts who assisted Buganda's queen in a normal delivery. The baby was delivered in the Sir Stanley Clayton Ward. Ssemwogerere's statement said, " I have received the exciting news of the Nnabagereka's delivery from the official traditional birth attendant Jessica Nnabikande Namuli Bisaso, who has been with the Nnabagereka in London." Others at the hospital were the Namasole Rebecca Zirimbuga Musoke, Nnabagereka's mother Rebecca Musoke and Sarah Kamya, the Nnabagereka's aunt. Also present were Mrs. Hannah Lule, Reuben Codjoe, young brother to the Nnabagereka, her friend Namata Katongole and Mrs. Catherine Nabankema Bwete, her personal assistant. The Katikkiro on behalf of Baganda congratulated the royal couple upon the birth of the princess. The princess will be given a name when the royals return home. Ssemwogerere said that the Nnabagereka's delivering in a London hospital was not by accident but was due to advice from the Nnabagereka's local specialists who referred her to international specialists overseas. The Nnabagereka left Uganda on April 4 and she has been under supervision for three months. The royal couple is expected home before the August 4 eighth coronation anniversary scheduled to be held at Ggulu, the Kyaggwe sazza headquarters in Mukono district. Several people including religious and political leaders have sent congratulatory messages to the royal couple and to the Baganda. The Archbishop of the Orthodox Church, Yona Lwanga, danced on hearing the good news. The Anglican Archbishop, Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, doubted the news. "Is it true or they are the usual press lies?" he asked. Nkoyooyo wished the royal couple success and urged the Baganda to appreciate the " gift of the princess that God had given us." Catholic Bishops Adrian Ddungu and John Baptist Kaggwa of Masaka were all smiles and wished the royal couple best wishes in bringing up the princess. The Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Joseph Obunga, on behalf of the Catholic Church, prayed that the royal couple entrusts the princess to the Almighty God. Presidential advisor Major Kakooza Mutale was overjoyed and said, "It is a good sign that Baganda have got a continuity of the royal lineage. It is a princess, next time it will be a prince." Presidential Advisor on media and Public Relations John Nagenda said he was delighted especially for the Nnabagereka who has tirelessly worked for Uganda's less privileged children. The Democratic Party Chief Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere, who was in a rural area, said he was overjoyed by the news. He said he first learnt of it when the people in the area started ululating after hearing the Katikkiro's announcement. Ends