Tough-Talking Kabaka Rebukes Disruptive Politicians, Clan Chiefs
In a bold 5:02-minute speech, Kabaka (King) Ronald Muwenda Mutebbi II addressed the nation to observe his 31st coronation anniversary.
Unusually, the Kabaka used the biting speech to rebuke opportunistic politicians and clan chiefs for attempting to “desecrate” and belittle the monarchy.
The Kabaka’s message comes after a tumultuous period where opportunistic especially opposition politicians used the situation around King’s sickness to undermine Kingdom officials while some proclaimed themselves the only rightful people to know and update people about Kabaka’s situation as opposed to the Kingdom officials led by Katikkiro whom they declared “mere workers”
As politicians were busy demanding Kabaka’s whereabouts amid staging protests both online and at some of the Namibian embassies abroad, clan chiefs declared that they were the ones with appointive powers on who emerged the Kabaka, which altogether, desecrated and belittled the monarchy and the King.
The Kabaka who emphasized the importance of unity in diversity and respecting cultural values, invoked the famous “Eryokanga ne tonnya netulaba ensisiira bwezenkenya Emyoyo” ganda proverb translated as “thanks to God for the rains to see which hut leaks, and the one that doesn’t leak,” Kabaka said, the past months have been pivotal in knowing who exactly loves and does not love Buganda.
After acknowledging that disruptive people have done “a lot of things to desecrate, belittle and misleading our people about our cultural norms, values, and heritage,” set the record straight on three key Buganda norms and cultural values.
He clarified that the Kabaka (monarch) ascends to the throne based on specific cultural norms, not through clan chief elections.
“The cornerstone clan chiefs who perform the cultural norms on crowning the King are well-known and aware of their responsibilities,” the Kabaka asserted that in the known cultural values and norms, the Kabaka is at liberty to either “create or veto certain norms depending on the situations in a given generation.”
The Kabaka also clarified that the monarch reigns with the assistance of a personally appointed Prime Minister (Katikkiro) and that the King does not have a deputy in the performance of his duties.
The Kabaka thus, ordered his subjects to be very careful and disassociate themselves from the disruptive people.
The Kabaka appreciated the love and obedience shown to the throne by the youth locally and in the diaspora, encouraging them to maintain this devotion with respect and good conduct.
“It’s very deserving to keep that love to the throne and it should be shown with respect and good conduct as it’s been known time in memorial,” the Kabaka said.
The King expressed gratitude for the medical care received from various countries and thanked the doctors for their tireless efforts. Despite improved health, the King was unable to join the physical prayers due to medical guidance.
The Kabaka’s address served as a powerful reminder of the importance of upholding cultural values and norms, strongly warning against those who seek to undermine the Kingdom’s heritage.