Shortly before 5pm on Friday, Buganda king (Kabaka) Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II's convoy snaked its way into Masaka city to a rousing welcome despite the Covid-19 restrictions.
The Kabaka was heading to his Nkoni palace in the neighbouring Lwengo district where he held his 28th coronation anniversary on July 31.
In the days that preceded the Kabaka's arrival, security chiefs from Masaka city, Masaka district and Lwengo district had announced stringent security measures that included a ban on construction of arches (ebiyitirirwa) along the roads fearing that masses would congregate to welcome the king.
Processions and all fanfare synonymous with the Kabaka's tours of the kingdom were also banned, but the orders were defied in the newly created city and further away in Kyengera and beyond.
Riot police patrolled Masaka's streets, but were overwhelmed once the Kabaka's convoy arrived. They could not teargas the king, after all, without causing outrage.
Throngs of people poured into the road, forcing the convoy to stop. The Kabaka's UPDF guards tried to control the crowd in vain, until the Kabaka got out of his car and walked through his ecstatic subjects.
NO ACCESS
Nkoni palace is about 10km out of Masaka city centre along the Mbarara highway, putting it in easy proximity for Masaka dwellers.
But the Pookino (Buddu county chief), Jude Muleke, cautioned loyalists against engaging in confrontations with the security, because the kingdom had committed to strict observance of standard operating procedures.
He urged them to stay home and virtually take part in the celebrations. Unfortunately, during the hours the celebrations were on TV, most of Buddu and Kampala had no electricity. Police heightened deployments and barricaded all roads leading to the palace.
In Masaka town, processions of mainly youthful kingdom loyalists clad in the traditional kanzu and gomesi continued.
"I won't fail to celebrate the Kabaka's coronation anniversary just because I can't go to Nkoni," said a man only identified as Kalyango, who runs a drycleaner's shop on Hobert street.
Kalyango hoped to follow the proceedings on TV, unaware that power would be switched off before the main events commenced. Some turned on power generators and allowed people to converge outside their shops to follow the live TV coverage.
Unable to access the palace because of a strong partnership their business rivals, Airtel, have with the kingdom, MTN focused on groups that converged in places like Kijjabwemi and Nyendo to celebrate the day.
NORMS WAIVED
At about 11am, the Kabaka and the Nnabagereka walked out of the newly refurbished palace without the usual fanfare.
There were at least 200 guests, notably members of the royal family, former vice president Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the leader of the opposition in parliament Mathias Mpuuga, Lwengo LC-V chairman Ibrahim Kitatta, Pookino and Masaka city mayor Florence Namayanja.
The Kabaka was guided to inspect the gifts (amakula) his subjects had collected for him. He received 21 head of cattle, 15 goats, three rabbits, 492 bunches of matooke, fruits and bark cloth among other items.
Most cultural norms associated with the day, such as sounding of royal drums and carrying the Kabaka usually done by members of the Mbogo (buffalo) clan; being served by the royal brewers from the Kibe (fox) clan, were waived.
Entertainers were also not allowed; instead, organisers recorded school children and other groups with compositions hailing the Kabaka. These were played on a giant screen.
To climax the celebrations, the Kabaka cut roasted cow meat instead of cake, and served his few guests and the rest of the beef was sent to prisoners at the county jail and retired priests at Kitovu.
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