Today in history: Sir Edward Mutesa laid to rest
Apr 04, 2018
Mutesa, who died in exile in London in 1969, after a fall out with the Prime Minister Milton Obote, was the 35th Kabaka of Buganda.
On April 4, 1971, first president of Uganda and Buganda's Kabaka was laid to rest at Kasubi Royal tombs.
Mutesa, who died in exile in London in 1969 after a fall out with the Prime Minister Milton Obote, was the 35th Kabaka of Buganda.
He was the father of the reigning Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. Then a 16-year-old, Prince Mutebi performed a ritual of placing a piece of backcloth on his deceased father's casket before the burial at Kasubi.
President Idi Amin salutes the body of Kabaka Mutesa II during his funeral. Photo/File
That act signified that Prince Mutebi was the rightful heir, but whose coronation came three decades later.
The return of Mutesa's body was facilitated by then president Idi Amin Dada, who had been in power for less than two months after overthrowing Milton Obote.
Amin gave Mutesa a state funeral, befitting a former head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.