The Nnaabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata, has told the world that her husband the Kabaka of Buganda approved of her idea to tell her personal story by publishing a book. She was speaking at colorful ceremony where she launched her autobiography- titled “The Nnaabagereka Queen Sylvia Nagginda Luswata” at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala.
This brought to an end speculation that the Nnaabagereka was “rebellious” and acted against the Kingdom’s norms to publish a book which contains intimate details about her love –life with the Kabaka of Buganda –king Ronnie Mutebi II as she fondly refers to him and one of the iconic figures in Africa and the rest of the world .
“I would like to start by expressing extraordinary appreciation from the depths of my heart to Ssabasajja Kabaka of Buganda for having allowed me to be his wife and also lend a hand to the progress and development of our region and people; for having allowed me to do both,” Nnaabagereka Nagginda said amid applause .
The event presided over by the Archibishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu,was attended by dignitaries from Buganda Kingdom included; Kabaka’s uncle, Ssaabaganzi Emmanuel Ssekitoleko, the Ssaabalangira Godfrey Musanje, Owekitiibwa Joyce Nnabbosa Ssebugwaawo, also the paternal aunt of the Nnaabagereka, Omutaka Namwama, Owekitiibwa Christine Mugerwa Kasule, and Owekitiibwa Kabuuza Mukasa.
Also in attendance at the event which had TV personality Jane Kasumba as MC -was the US ambassador to Uganda, Ms Natalie Brown, and Princess Elizabeth Bagaya of Tooro Kingdom, Uganda’s women pole bearers in development and economic empowerment -Ms Joyce Mpanga and Ms Rhoda Kalema.
In her speech, Ambassador Brown said: “The Nnaabagereka’s autobiography provides readers with an opportunity to hear, feel and experience a story from the eyes of someone familiar.”
Ms Brown noted that given the length of time the Nnaabagereka had spent in the US, she qualified to be called “Our Queen”.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala, and State Minister for Higher Education, Mr Chrysostom Muyingo; Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and Kampala Capital City Council Authority executive director Dorothy Kisaka, among others, also attended the event.
“It’s okay not to be perfect…It’s an important story for anyone who wants to accept themselves and discover themselves with all their perfect imperfections,” Ms Jackie Asiimwe, a human rights lawyer and one of three people invited by the Queen Naginda to review reveiw the book before a packed audience, stated .
Mr Robert Kabushenga, of the Rugyeyo Farm and former CEO Vision Group -said that the book was a template for fathers raising daughters everywhere. “This book speaks to any man who is the father of a daughter…the dangerous presumptions we make as fathers without knowing what your daughter might be battling…”
Notably absent at the launch was the Kabaka of Buganda and the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga.
The Nnabagereka also skipped talking about the controversial revelation in the book that she was “ blessed with twins .” Kingdom officials have since come out to say that the “twin girls” now aged 13 are not yet officially introduced as the Kabaka’s biological children although the Kabaka has a number of adopted children who stay with him in the palace.
