This week my defining story has been the Kabaka of Buganda, my ancestral tribe in Buganda having a new son, Prince Richard Semakokilo. The news was greeted with a mixed reaction on the Internet and back home in Uganda.
A bit of background to the story. Kabaka (King) Mutebi II is the cultural leader of the Baganda, a sub national tribe in Uganda. the Baganda are by far the largest tribe in Uganda and most influential. At over 5 million people, the Kabaka therefore enjoys quite a lot of influence and his subjects revere him.
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| Mutebi and Nagginda marry. |
The problem however is that in 1999, in the mother of all Anglican Cathedrals in Uganda, Namirembe Cathedral, The Kabaka got married to a thoroughly modern lady Sylvia Nagginda. She wasn't the proverbial traditional lady. She was well educated, of independent mind and had up to that point enjoyed a carrier of her own. People took to her really well. The Kabaka and Nagginda have a daughter and the Kabaka also has a son Prince Jjunju from a previous relationship.
First forward to a few days ago, an announcement came from the royal household that the Kabaka had a son, Prince Richard Semakokiro born of a one Nansikombi. The excitement was tangible because of the significance of this lad. Prince Jjunju under cultural laws can't succeed his father. Others have put the blame to the fact that allegedly his mother is not from the Baganda tribe. So, Semakokilo was to many the heir to the throne. Well, according to those in the know, it isn't as simple as that so the excitement was slightly abated in other circles.
The main slant to the story was that the Kabaka had sired a child with a lady other than the Queen. Some people found this abhorrent that he should have a child with a lady other than his wife Nagginda. However, again things aren't as simple as that. Those who are in fervent honor of the Kingdom slated off those who dared to question the morality of of having this child as insubordinate to the Kabaka. they were dully slapped down. The Kabaka, they said, was duty bound to provide a male heir regardless.
So the hunt for the mother started in Ernest. The print media in Uganda came out with a photograph of the alledged mother of Semakokilo. "Nansikombi" was pictured on the front pages and her photos emailed accross the globe. On sight, many forgave the Kabaka because "Nansikombi" came out as a rather pretty lady..
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| Patience Kirabo (Monitor photograph) |
A day or so later, the lady in the photograph came out to deny she was the one. As it turns out, the "Nansikombi" is actually a one Barbara Patience Kirabo. So who was Nansikombi? Well another photograph has been released which on closer inspection shows a lady in wedding dress. So, is this lady married to someone else? Well, it isn't as simple as that as in traditional Ganda culture, all women are wives to the King. But..........................................
We now have another photograph of the lady purported to be the mother of Semakokilo.
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| The alledged Nansikombi mother to Prince Semakokilo. |
The story continues..................
"Others have put the blame to the fact that allegedly his mother is not from the Baganda tribe. So, Semakokilo was to many the heir to the throne. <
ReplyDeletethe truth is that the Baganda did not want one clan to have the Throne all to themselves and so decided that the Princes will always belong to their mothers clan.
Since Junju's mother has no Ganda clan, it disqualifies him.
Also Nagginda could have a son who equally has the same claim to the throne as the baby prince. Being the eldest son does not put Prince Semakokiro in better standing. Like you said, it isnt that simple