EMPANGO ANNIVERSARY
Jun 11, 2015
The 21st grand annual empango anniversary will be held at Karuziika palace in Hoima town. Empango is a ritual the Omukama performs as he is crowned. Gafabusa, first performed this ritual on June 11, 1994. Since then it has been an annual celebration marked on June 11.
The invited guests
The 21st grand annual empango anniversary will be held at Karuziika palace in Hoima town. Empango is a ritual the Omukama performs as he is crowned. Gafabusa, first performed this ritual on June 11, 1994. Since then it has been an annual celebration marked on June 11.
Ronald Isagara, the kingdom information minister said the chief guest will be President Yoweri Museveni who will take part in the the grand cultural empango dance. The empango cultural dance will be opened by the Omukama and this continues until dawn.
This year’s empango was preceded by a one-week long culturalbusiness- agricultural/ tourism exhibition week dubbed Bunyoro cultural expo week under the theme, “Bunyoro Kingdom united for cultural, economic and social development.” Isagara says that they have extended invitees to several dignitaries including the clergy and that by press time Tuesday officials from Buganda, Tooro and Busoga kingdoms had confirmed their attendance. “His Highness Mwami Kabate king of North Kivu in DR. Congo had arrived at Entebbe airport by Tuesday this week,” he said. The King of Mahagi in south Kivu, Sabaruli and other cultural leaders are expected
Bunyoro Kitara takes strides
By Robert Atuhairwe
On June 11, 1994 Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru was enthroned as the 27th king of Bunyoro kingdom under the Babiito clan dynasty. Kingdoms were abolished by the Milton Obote I government in 1967. Bunyoro comprised the districts of Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale, Kiryandongo and Buliisa as one of the most powerful kingdoms in Africa from the 13th century to the 19th century. Bunyoro region is east of Lake Albert and is one of the culturally diverse areas.
Many of Uganda’s tribes have found refuge in Bunyoro. Bunyoro’s heart, Hoima, is located 225km northwest of Kampala and it is where the main palace (Karuzika) of the Omukama of Bunyoro is situated. Hoima is the administrative and commercial centre. Bunyoro has a very large, economic potential with, large oil wells, gas, iron ore Kibiro salt works and precious stone deposits. The kingdom has large rainforests with an abundance of hardwoods like mahogany.
The kingdom is planning to establish a university that will primarily focus on teaching skills in the extraction of natural resources. The university will also work to preserve the high level of cultural heritage in the area and boost education in this part of the country. Bunyoro has no public university.
The newly founded Bunyoro Kitara Royal University is located a few metres from the kings palace in the kingdom buildings. It is affiliated to Gulu university as it pursues a charter from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). It now operates on a provisional license.
It officially opened its doors after the Omukama donated the kingdom administration buildings in September, 2014. This ended the region’s long wait for a university. “The kingdom is to celebrate the 21st empango (coronation) anniversary of Omukama Gafabusa today, under the theme, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom united for cultural, economic and social development,” according to the kingdom deputy prime minister and minister of information Ronald Isagara.
He says, the kingdom has registered a few successes. “The kingdom is taking strides in uniting her subjects. The response to this year’s empango is good. Subjects are increasingly coming in to support,” says Isagara. He says the kingdom has succeeded in formulating a development plan that includes fighting HIV/AIDS, mobilising pregnant women to go for antenatal care and adapting modern farming practices. Bunyoro Kingdom has also started proper utilisation of land and is boosting vocational skills education so that the youths can get employment in the oil and gas sector
Empango a symbol of unity
Empango is the first ritual the Omukama (king) performs as he is crowned. It is celebrated on every coronation anniversary in Bunyoro Kingdom. According to Ashraf Mugenyi, the kabonerwa of the Omukama (one who leads the king wherever he goes), the empango ceremony is preceded by the presentation of the regalia (ebikwaato) to the Omukama.
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