Ssabasajja Kabaka wa Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Walugembe Mutebi II was born at Mmengo Lubiri on April 12 13, 1955. The Lion of Buganda (Emplogoma ya Buganda) is the son of Ssekabaka (past Kabaka) Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II, who reigned between 1939 and 1969. His mother was Omuzaana Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole, Kabejja, of the Nkima (monkey) clan. He was educated at Budo Junior School, King’s Mead School in Sussex and Bradford College. He then entered Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read Law.
Omulangira (prince) Mutebi became Kabaka on November 21, 1969, upon the death of Ssekabaka Muteesa II. However, all Baganda cultural practices for his coronation were not completed until July 24, 1993 at Naggalabi, Buddo, Busiro county of Buganda. He assumed the titles of Ssabasajja, Cucu, Namunswa, Magulunyondo, Musota, Ssabalangira, Ssabataka, Ssabalongo, Baffe, Beene and many others that Baganda traditionally bestow on their Kabaka. In recent times, young Baganda have added new hip titles for their Kabaka, including Landiloodi, Mutakwaata Ssimu and Mutateesa to show their appreciation for his uniquely brave and dignified stance when his kingdom is under occupation.
NOTES: Many thanks to Abasajja ba Kabaka Mambo and Arthur George Kamya for correcting our mistakes in this story. Awangaale Ssabasajja!
March 13th, 2010 at 3:08 am
Wangaala Ai Ssaabasajja Kabaka Magulunyondo Nyanjatemanyiirwa Cuucu Sseggwanga Musota Empologoma Ya Buganda.
Okuwabulamu; Bino biva ku Ganda Ancestry.
Kabaka Ronald Frederick Muwenda Mutebi II is the 36th Kabaka of Buganda. He was born at the royal palace, Twekobe, Mengo (Buganda) on 13th April, 1955. He is the son of the late Sekabaka Edward Frederick Luwangula Walugembe Muteesa II and the late Kabejja Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole of the Nkima clan.
Muwenda Mutebi spent part of his childhood in exile following the desecration of the Buganda kingdom between 1966-1986.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Wano ob’olyaawo nnoonya kuwabulwa. Does Kabaka hold the title “Ssabalangira”? I thought that was Besweri Mulondo territory…no?
March 15th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Musajja wa Kabaka Kamya,
Kanngambe nti oli mu ansa okuutiiza! Once a prince of Buganda becomes the King of Buganda Kingdom, he automatically ceazes to carry the title ‘Prince’ or even ‘Chief Prince’. By implication, therefore, the Kabaka cannot be a Ssabalangira = Head of princes + princesses. That’s even why it sounds awefully a lot ridiculous to hear some Ugandans or even foreigners for that matter, whom you would otherwise expect to be knowledgeable, referring to His Majesty Kabaka as ‘His Highness the Kabaka’, a title prinicipally reserved for princes. I am certainly aware that the British colonilaists initiated this misnorma – if only with derogatory intentions – in the same way they referred to our great nations or nationalities as ‘tribes’, but it is indeed wrong to continue carrying on using such colonial distortations in an ignorant manner like a bunch of ignorant Ugandan politicians do.
There are quite a bunch of sources on the internet regarding the answer to your question if you attempted your research with such subjects as ‘buganda Kings…’ which can provide you with detailed information on your question. Suffice to note, however, that there is a small pamphlet on the titles of the Kabaka titled ‘Ettiibwa ly’Empologoma’ by Barnabus/Balunaba … If you are in Uganda, you should be able to readily obtain this awesome pamphlet on this very subject.
I notice, however, that you are a regular contributor of pretty critical and insighteful political articles on Uganda, amongst others, in one of the Ugandan dailies. This implies that your question is rather merely a tongue in the cheek, possibly for someone who could have wrongly used that title in reference to Ssabasajja Kabaka, rather than one seeking knowledge on the same subject. If my former presumption should turn out to be the correct one, I will then ask you for your kind indulgence!
Awangaale nyo ayi Ssabasajja Kabaka!
March 15th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Mukulu Busagwa:
My question was indeed a polite rhetorical question seeking to correct all who might have misused said title.
Weebale nnyo ssebo kutangaaza mu ngeri nange gyesandisobodde.
Awangaale Magulunnyondo!!
March 18th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Wewawo, wewawo Musajja wa Kabaka Kamya!
Nate kitalo nyo nyini okyokwokyebwa kw’amasilo gaffe abemitima egy’ekisodde! Those beasts who burnt down our royal tombs must never be forgiven nor forgotten for now and many generations of our great grand children to come!
Gutusinze nyo ayi Ssaabasajja Kabaka!