Although the late King Daniel Basamula-Ekkere Mwanga II the great grandfather of the reigning King of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is portrayed as a bad leader because of ordering the killing of the believers who turned to be Uganda Martyrs, he actually also did great work which is under looked.
King Mwange donated land to the religions which is now harboring the Headquarters of the different historical regions for instance at Lubaga were the Cathedral for the Catholic Church of Kampala Archdiocese is located and that of Nsambye that hosts the Secretariat of the catholic Episcopal and Namirembe Diocese Headquarters for the Anglican.
His Majesty King Mwanga also fought for Uganda’s independence and because of his acts of resisting the colonial rule, built the first man-made lake in Africa called Kabaka’s lake but all this isn’t mentioned anywhere in literature text.
It’s from this background that concerned people from Masaka under their Umbrella Organization called Banamasaka Ssanyu Lya Bujjajja have organized an event aimed at popularizing the works of the late King Mwanga.
The organizing secretary of the Organization Francis Kabuye said that, it’s unfortunate that people are only talking about what negative aspects of the late King yet he did good things as well.
Kabuye a native of Masaka says that King Mwanga fought for the independence of the country and this is one of the factors that led him to exile were he eventually died and his son Daudi Chwa was enthroned at the helm of the Kingdom when he was only 3 years old.
“As a believer I think it was God’s plan have Kabaka’s subjects rebel that led to their martyrdom so as to make them famous and such that people in the country and all over the world continue to glorify their creator,’’ Kabuye joked.
“ I haven’t had anywhere be it in normal talks by people or in media the works of King Mwanga being mentioned and appreciated and this has prompted us as Bannamasaka were the majesty had his first palace at Kabuwoko to organize a function aimed at telling Ugandans what he did.’’ Kabuye said.
He also revealed that there are some other great people in Masaka who will also be recognized for what they did for the country for instance Joseph Kyagambiddwa who carried the drum to Vatican in Rome when the Martyrs were being beatified.
Kabuye says that King Mwanga relocated to Kanyanya a suburb of Kampala in Kyadondo County where he constructed another palace and married Namasole Juliana Nabikande Ndibalekera from Ngabi Clan and he nick named her Maaso Mbira because of her glory like eyes.
The function for making the awareness of the great works of King Mwanga and launch of Bannamasaka Ssanyu Lya Bujjajja group will be held on this Saturday 20th July, 2024 in Kabuwoko, Masaka District under the theme; ‘Kabaka Mwanga at Kabuwoko and Ssimba Trail’.
Its believed that Kabaka Mwanga was misled by his Katiikiro (Prime Minister) Kaggwa Kawalya them who would give him false information that the believers wanted to overthrow him that is why the rebelled against him.
Due to such false information he ordered for the execution of the martyrs but its alleged that before he died he had apologized and took the sacrament of penitence.
Rose Mary Nanteza the care taker of Namasole Ndibalekera’s palace and burial ground dignified relatives of Namasole in Kanyanya said that the July 20th every year will be held and on Saturday they will be able to revive the name of the late King Mwanga through telling people what good things he did.