Celebrating King Freddie's Legacy on His 100th Birthday
Dear Ugandan community,friends of Buganda, and all supporters of cultural heritage.
As we approach the centenary of Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II’s (King Freddie’s) birthday in November 2024, Buganda Heritage Association (UK & Ireland), under its Patron Naalinnya Nabaloga (Lubuga) is embarking on a truly special journey.
To commemorate this momentous occasion, we’re excited to share our dream of creating a statue in London that will become an integral part of Buganda’s rich heritage.
Permission has already been granted by the Southwark council, London. The monument is to be installed in the Civic Square, Southwark, the area where he spent the last years of his life. The Project’s estimated cost including design, casting, and installation is £100,000. We are calling upon all Baganda, Ugandans, Ugandan Asian Community, Friends of Uganda and well-wishers to assist in fundraising this amount.
BACKGROUND
King Edward Muteesa II was the 35th King of Buganda and the 1st President of independent Uganda.He was much loved in his home country and also overseas where he was affectionately known as “King Freddie”. He studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge where he joined the University Officer Training Corps.
He was subsequently commissioned as a captain and became the first Black Commissioned Officer in the Grenadier Guards, the most senior regiment of the infantry in the British Army. He eventually returned home to Uganda to carry out his royal duties.
As King of Buganda, he refused to sign up to plans to create an East African Federation which he felt would disadvantage his people and was exiled to the UK by the colonial authorities (1953-55). He was a philanthropist and selfless in public office, donating his entire Presidential salary to help the less developed areas,particularly Karamoja.
He became the first President of Uganda in 1963 but after disagreements with the Prime Minister, King Muteesa fled Uganda in May 1966 after his palace was attacked by government troops led by Commander Idi Amin.
He returned to his second exile in the UK and eventually settled at 28 Orchard House, Lower Road, Southwark in London. Despite his status in his home country, while in exile he offered charitable services in his local community, for the good of the people. He helped as a volunteer.
Social worker among the old and infirm. He also participated in the administration of a nearby housing and welfare society – the Carr-Gomm Society.
On 21st November 1969, King Muteesa II died mysteriously in his flat at Orchard House. In 1971 his body was repatriated to Uganda where he was laid to rest in Kasubi tombs a few miles from the palace where he had fled from in 1966. The Kasubi tombs are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In August 2019, Buganda Heritage Association unveiled a blue plaque at Orchard House in memory of King Muteesa II.
Send money to:
Account name: Buganda Heritage Association (UK & IRE)
Barclays UK Plc, 1 Churchill Place, London, UK
Account No: 80280909
Sort Code: 20-69-15
SWIFTBIC BUKBGB22
IBAN GB96 BUKB 2069 1580 2809 09
(and please give your name as reference).
WHY A MONUMENT FOR KING MUTEESA II
King Freddie Muteesa II, the 35th Kabaka (king) of Buganda and the first President of Uganda, would have turned 100 years old in November 2024. His life and accomplishments deserve to be celebrated in a way that leaves a lasting impact for generations to come. He spent his last years living in exile in Southwark where the statue will be erected.
The monument will highlight the significance of his iconic and impactful reign during and post-colonial East Africa. The Borough of Southwark is home to the largest African Community in the UK and the monument of an African King, a first President of an African independent country and the first Black Commissioned Officer in the Grenadier Guards,will be a good reference point for young African people as well as for current Uganda diaspora and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community in general.
It is a good contributor to Black History and is a good indication of the diverse cultural history of the residents of the area. It will also act as a sign of cultural preservation and integration of people who have settled in the Borough.
The monument will be the link leading to the heritage and culture which he practiced.
This is a story that needs to be told.
FUNDRAISING FOR THE MONUMENT
Buganda Heritage Association (UK & Ireland), a not-for-profit registered organisation, is the owner of this project. Together with the sculptor, we have worked out in detail the funds needed for the production of the monument.
We need to raise £100,000. Please contribute generously. Your contribution to the project is critical to remembering the past, inform and educate the present and future generations.
Developers' view of the completed square
OKUSONDA ENSIMBI Z'EKIBUMBE KYA SSEKABAKA MUTEESA II
Buganda Heritage Association yasabuukulula akapande aka bbulu ku Orchard House ng’Ekijjukizo kya Ssekabaka Muteesa II
Buganda Heritage Association UK & Ireland 6 Stafford Court,Stafford Road,Croydon,CR0 4NL, UK
Buganda Heritage
Ssekabaka Muteesa II
OKUJJUKIRA OMUKULULO GWA “KING FREDDIE” KU MAZAALIBWA GE AG’EMYAKA 100
Mikwano Bannauganda bannaffe, mikwano gya Buganda naabo bonna abajjumbira Eby’obuwangwa tubalamusizza!
Nga tusemberera emyaka ekikumi egy’Amazaalibwa ga Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II oba “King Freddie” nga ba nfanfe be bwe baamuyitanga,mu Museenene (November) 2004, Buganda Heritage.
Association (UK & Northern Ireland), nga bakulemberwa Omuyima waabwe, Naalinnya Nabaloga Lubuga bateekateeka okwanganga eddimu eddene era eritali lya bulijjo: Okujaguza ekkula lino ery’enjawulo. Mu ttuluba eryo, kitubuguumiriza okugabana nammwe ekirooto kyaffe eky’okuzimba mu Kibuga London ekibumbe ekinaabeera ekitundu ku bijjukizo bya Buganda eby’Omulembe ogwo. Olukusa lumaze okufunibwa okuva mu Southwark Council e London. Ekibumbe kijja kuteekebwa mu Civic Square, Ssekabaka weyamalira emyaka gy’obulamu bwe egyasembayo. Omulimu gwonna, ng’oguyingizzaamu emisoso gyonna gusuubirwa okuwemmenta emitwalo gya Paawundi z’Ebungereza kkumi (£100,000). Bwe tutyo tukoowoola Abaganda bonna, Bannauganda, Ab’Ekinywi ky’Abayindi Bannauganda, Mikwano gya Uganda n’abawagizi abalala bonna okuyamba mu kusonda ensimbi ezo.
EBYANJULA
Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II yali Kabaka wa Buganda ow’Asatu mu abataano era President wa Uganda eyeefuga eyasooka. Yayagalwa nnyo mu nsi ye ne mu nsi ez’Ebweru gye yaweebwa n’erinnya eriraga obuganzi bwe erya “King Freddie”. Yasomera mu Cambridge University, Magdaleine College gye yeegattira ku University Officer Training Corps. Oluvannyuma yatikkirwa n’alinnyisibwa ku ddaala lya Kaputeeni era bwatyo n’abeera Omuddugavu eyasooka okutikkirwa mu Grenadier Guards ekitongole ekisinga okubeera ekyawaggulu mu Magye ga Bungereza ag’oku TTaka. Yalwa ddaaki n’akomawo eka mu Uganda okukakkalabya emirimu gye egy’Obwakabaka.
Bwe yali Kabaka wa Buganda, yagaana okwenyigira mu nteekateeka z’okutondawo Federesoni ya Africa Eyebuvanjuba gye yalaba ng’ejja kunyiga abantu be era bwatyo n’awangangusibwa Abafuzi b’Amatwale (1953 –1955). Yalina omutima omugabi era ogulumirirwa ng’ali mu buweereza. Yeerekereza omusaala gwe gwonna ogw’obwa Pulezidenti guyambe ebitundu ebyali bisingamu obwetaavu mu Uganda, naddala Karamoja.
Mu 1963 yayingirawo nga Pulezidenti wa Uganda omuberyeberye. Naye oluvannyuma lw’obutakkaanya ne Ssaabaminisita Milton Obote,Ssekabaka Muteesa yadduka okuva mu Uganda mu mwezi gwa Muzigo (May) 1966, Olubiri lwe bwe lwalumbibwa amagye ga Gavumenti eya Wakati nga gakulemberwa Kamanda Idi Amin. Muteesa yawanganguka omulundi ogw’okubiri okudda mu Bungereza era n’amaliriza ng’asiisidde ku kibanja 28, Orchard House, Lower Road, Southwark mu London. Awatali kubalirira kitiibwa kyeyalina eka nga Kabaka, ng’ali mu Buwang’anguse yakola emirimu gy’obwa nnakyeewa mu kitundu okuyamba abalala. Yakolanga mu bakadde n’abaliko obulemu.
Yeenyigira mu kuddukanya ekibiina ky’amayumba n’embeera z’Abantu,”The Carr-Gomm Society”. Nga 21 Museenene (November) 1969, Kabaka Muteesa II yafiira mu nnyumba ye mu ngeri etaategereekeka. Mu 1971 enjole ye yakomezebwawo e Uganda era n’egalamizibwa mu Masiro e Kasubi, kinnya na mpindi okuva ku Lubiri lwe yali adduseemu mu 1966. Amasiro ga ba Ssekabaka ag’e Kasubi gali ku Lukalala lwa UNESCO olw’Eby’Obuwangwa n’Ennono z’Abantu.
Mu mwezi gwa Muwakanya (August) 2019, Buganda Heritage Association yasabuukulula akapande aka bbulu ku Orchard House ng’Ekijjukizo kya Ssekabaka Muteesa II.
LWAKI EKIBUMBE KYA SSEKABAKA MUTEESA II
Ssekabaka Muteesa II, Kabaka wa Buganda ow’Asatu mu Abataano era Pulezident wa Uganda Omuberyeberye yaalibadde aweza emyaka 100 (Kikumi) egy’obukulu mu Museenene (November) 2024.
Obulamu bwe n’omukululo gw’obuweerezaa bwe bisaanidde okujaguzibwa mu ngeri erekawo ekijjukizo ekirirabwako mu mirembe egy’omumaaso. Yamala emyaka gye egyasembayo mu buwanganguse ng’abeera Southwark ekibumbe gye kitegekeddwa okuzimbibwa.
Ekibumbe kijja kulaga obukulu n’ebibala by’omulembe gwe mu East Africa eyaddirira obufuzi bw’Amatwale. Ggombolola ya Southwark erimu Abafirika abasinga obungi mu Bungereza era ekibumbe kya Kabaka Omufirika, Pulezidenti Omuberyeberye ow’ensi ya Afirika era Offiisa Omuddugavu eyasooka okutikkirwa mu Grenadier Guards, kajja kubeera kyakulabirako kirungi eri abavubuka Abafirika wamu ne Bannauganda abali ebweru okwo nga kwotadde Abayindi n’abamawanga agatalina batuuze bangi. Kigatta bulungi ku Byafaayo by’Abaddugavu era kiraga bulungi obugagga bw’Ebyafaayo n’Ennono eby’abantu abenjawulo abawangaalira mu kitundu ekyo ng’Abatuuze. Kajja kubeera kabonero k’okukuuma Ebyafaayo n’Ennono n’okugatta abantu abaasalawo okusenga mu Southwark. Ekibumbe kijja kubeera olutindo wakati w’Obuwangwa n’Ennono bye yakkiririzangamu era mwe yatambuliranga. Eno y’Emboozi esaanidde okunyumizibwa.
OKUSONDA ENSIMBI Z’EKIBUMBE
Buganda Heritage Association (UK & Ireland), Ekibiina eky’Obwannakyewa nga tekigenderera magoba be bannannyini mulimu guno. Wamu n’omubumbi, tubaliridde
mu bujjuvu, ensimbi ezeetaagisa okumaliriza Ekibumbe ekyogerwako. Twetaaga £100,000. Bannaffe, muweeyo n’omwoyo omugabi. Okuwaayo kwammwe ku lw’Omulimu guno kukulu nnyo mu kujjukira ebyafaayo, okumanyisa n’okuyigiriza abaaleero n’abaliddawo. Ensimbi ziyinza okuweerezebwa ku:
Account ya: Buganda Heritage Association (UK & IRE)
Barclays UK Plc,1 Churchill Place, London, UK
Account No. 80280909
Sort Code: 20 – 69 – 15
SWIFTBIC BUKB22
IBAN GB96 BUKB 2069 1580 2809 09
(Osabibwa okuteekako erinnya lyo nga “Reference“)
Ekibangirizi nga bwe kisuubirwa okulabika
Buganda Heritage Association UK & Ireland
6 Stafford Court,Stafford Road,Croydon,CR0 4NL, UK
FUNDRAISING FOR KING MUTEESA II MONUMENT
The monument will highlight the significance of his iconic and impactful reign during and post-colonial East Africa. The monument of an African King ,will be a good reference point for young African people as well as for current Uganda diaspora and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community in general.