Buganda begins week of mourning
Mar 21, 2010
THE Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) convenes today to discuss the reconstruction of the Kasubi royal tombs which were gutted by fire last week as the kingdom begins a week of mourning.
By Henry Mukasa
THE Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) convenes today to discuss the reconstruction of the Kasubi royal tombs which were gutted by fire last week as the kingdom begins a week of mourning.
Mengo minister of information Peter Mayiga said yesterday that the Katikkiro (Buganda premier), JB Walusimbi, will use the session to officially inform the members about the tragic incident.
Mayiga explained that the dress-code for session will be black, to symbolise mourning. He said on Friday, loyalists will wear kanzu (white tunic) without coats but with black arm and waist bands.
Fire gutted the royal tombs, destroying 130-year-old artifacts, royal medals and regalia. Mengo has demanded an independent commission of inquiry into the fire.
“We shall not discuss the cause of the fire because we don’t know it,†said deputy spokesperson Medard Lubega Seggona.
Four of Buganda’s kings, Muteesa I, Mwanga Basammula, Daudi Chwa and Sir Edward Muteesa II, were laid to rest at the tombs. Their remains, however, remained intact.
By yesterday evening, the place had been fenced off with railings and reeds. The head of the Buganda clan leaders, Waliggo Nakirembeka, was among the people who camped at the tombs.
University students under Nkobazambogo, a Ganda youth group, have been fetching water and serving breakfast to people who had kept vigil or worked at the tombs since Wednesday.
People from various parts of the Buganda continued to ferry grass and reeds, the main materials traditionally used to thatch the tombs. Most people wore black shirts or white tunics without coats as a sign of sorrow.
Several Buganda regalia and portraits of monarchs were on sale at the tombs, as well as pictures of the current Kabaka, Ronald Mutebi, and Queen Sylvia Nagginda.
Buganda’s minister Kabuuza Mukasa received high profile guests whom he guided around the ruins.
Ogenga Latigo, leader of the opposition in Parliament, was among the weekend visitors. This is his first public appearance since his car accident in October.
Accompanied by other MPs, Latigo said the opposition was shocked by the fire and vowed to put pressure on the Government to help the kingdom rebuild the site.
“I have brought a condolence message from the people of the north and opposition MPs to Buganda and particularly the royal family. I encourage you to be united at this sad moment,†he said.
Meanwhile, Seggona, while addressing crowds at Kasubi on Friday, warned the youth against unruly behaviour like beating and insulting people who they perceive to be against their cause.
“The Baganda are known to solve problems peacefully. Those who are throwing stones might be having their own motives; one of it is to see security operators kill innocent people who come to the tombs,†he stated.
Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago said a timely investigation into the fire and publication of the report would cool people’s anger.
Additional reporting by Brian Mayanja and Stella Naigino
THE Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) convenes today to discuss the reconstruction of the Kasubi royal tombs which were gutted by fire last week as the kingdom begins a week of mourning.
Mengo minister of information Peter Mayiga said yesterday that the Katikkiro (Buganda premier), JB Walusimbi, will use the session to officially inform the members about the tragic incident.
Mayiga explained that the dress-code for session will be black, to symbolise mourning. He said on Friday, loyalists will wear kanzu (white tunic) without coats but with black arm and waist bands.
Fire gutted the royal tombs, destroying 130-year-old artifacts, royal medals and regalia. Mengo has demanded an independent commission of inquiry into the fire.
“We shall not discuss the cause of the fire because we don’t know it,†said deputy spokesperson Medard Lubega Seggona.
Four of Buganda’s kings, Muteesa I, Mwanga Basammula, Daudi Chwa and Sir Edward Muteesa II, were laid to rest at the tombs. Their remains, however, remained intact.
By yesterday evening, the place had been fenced off with railings and reeds. The head of the Buganda clan leaders, Waliggo Nakirembeka, was among the people who camped at the tombs.
University students under Nkobazambogo, a Ganda youth group, have been fetching water and serving breakfast to people who had kept vigil or worked at the tombs since Wednesday.
People from various parts of the Buganda continued to ferry grass and reeds, the main materials traditionally used to thatch the tombs. Most people wore black shirts or white tunics without coats as a sign of sorrow.
Several Buganda regalia and portraits of monarchs were on sale at the tombs, as well as pictures of the current Kabaka, Ronald Mutebi, and Queen Sylvia Nagginda.
Buganda’s minister Kabuuza Mukasa received high profile guests whom he guided around the ruins.
Ogenga Latigo, leader of the opposition in Parliament, was among the weekend visitors. This is his first public appearance since his car accident in October.
Accompanied by other MPs, Latigo said the opposition was shocked by the fire and vowed to put pressure on the Government to help the kingdom rebuild the site.
“I have brought a condolence message from the people of the north and opposition MPs to Buganda and particularly the royal family. I encourage you to be united at this sad moment,†he said.
Meanwhile, Seggona, while addressing crowds at Kasubi on Friday, warned the youth against unruly behaviour like beating and insulting people who they perceive to be against their cause.
“The Baganda are known to solve problems peacefully. Those who are throwing stones might be having their own motives; one of it is to see security operators kill innocent people who come to the tombs,†he stated.
Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago said a timely investigation into the fire and publication of the report would cool people’s anger.
Additional reporting by Brian Mayanja and Stella Naigino