• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Today in history: Kabaka Mutebi presides over one of the most significant functions of his reign

watchdog by watchdog
5 years ago
in Conversations with, Op-Ed
5 0
ShareTweetSendShare

By Denis Jjuuko

On this day in 2013, donning my Kanzu, I drove to the main entrance of the Mengo Palace to witness one of the shortest functions in Buganda culture. This function lasts less than five minutes… yes less than five. Normally Kabaka’s events last at least two hours.

Kabaka and members of the royal family appear from the palace, he sounds the drums and calls the name of the person twice. The first time, the person doesn’t respond I think to be sure that he is the one being called. The second time, the person being called responds saying here I am your majesty and walks to him. The Kabaka then gets a mace that symbolizes the authority of the office of the Katikkiro (Ddamula) and says go and help me to co-manage my kingdom. That makes the Katikkiro the most powerful office after the Kabaka’s.

End of function. Kabaka may watch on for a few minutes or may simply return to the palace. A battle to protect the mace ensues. The newly installed Katikkiro must ensure that he protects the Ddamula until he reaches the official residence which is about 200m from the palace. He must have his clan members help him protect it. If you lose the Ddamula, you cease being Katikkiro. I don’t know whether today that would be possible to simply fight for Ddamula and then assume office. Imagine some professional conman forcibly getting the Ddamula… but it would be a bad omen for a Katikkiro to lose it.

Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga was the first Katikkiro in Kabaka Mutebi’s reign to have a crowd that stretched to Bulange, a mile away. turn up to witness a Ddamula hand over.

But among the crowd were a few pretenders mobilised by somebody who had thought he would be the Katikkiro so he positioned his men to take Ddamula from Mayiga. Unknown to him, the intel leaked so they found a ready group from Mayiga’s clan who fought tooth and nail to ensure he doesn’t lose the Ddamula. They managed though to break his eye glasses. Those guys are still fighting up to today mainly on social media.

Once the Katikkiro reaches Butikkiro (his official residence) with Ddamula, he serves his clan roast meat and traditional brew to celebrate.

Anyway, as you see in the photo, Katikkiro Mayiga is still holding the Ddamula with firm hands. Kabaka as you see in the photo is still smiling, enjoying what his protege (for lack of a better word) has been able to achieve—to restore Buganda’s glory.

For as long as Mayiga has been in Mengo, he has been fought simply because he delivers what Kabaka Mutebi asks and expects of him. In December 1999, some royal guards even claimed he had abused the Kabaka so that they stop his rising star. Kabaka smiled and fired those who were used to demean his man. If there is anybody who knows what Mayiga can and can’t do it is Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi. He saw him as a young man joining his service when many youth couldn’t. He was first person ever to work in Bulange when the UPDF left. It wasn’t all glamour. There was hardly in furniture in there. Kabaka Mutebi sees what Mayiga has been able to achieve in the last seven years since he appointed him Katikkiro. Make no mistake, the Kabaka is not oblivious to that. The Baganda are not oblivious to that fact either.

Now, Ddamula is a wooden mace that is cut from Olufuggo forest in Ssese islands in Lake Victoria. If you have been to Ssese, it is on Bugala island and on the road to the Bidco headquarters. I hope those guys will continue to respect that forest and don’t replace it with palm trees…

This particular Ddamula is said to be 100s of years old.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share1Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda
Conversations with

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10
Phillip R. Ongadia
Op-Ed

PHILLIP R. ONGADIA: NRM joint campaign: The party’s fault line

3rd July 2025 at 18:58
Commissioner Hellen Seku
Conversations with

HELLEN SEKU: Why the ideological training for NRM youth converts was important?

2nd July 2025 at 21:27
Next Post
Kabale journalists storming RDC's office

Kabale journalists storm RDC’s office over media harassment

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1106 shares
    Share 442 Tweet 277
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2285 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 571
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    41 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    118 shares
    Share 47 Tweet 30
  • LATEST LIST: New salary structure for all Ugandan civil servants starting July 2021

    1152 shares
    Share 461 Tweet 288
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

John Bosco Muwonge: The Man Powering Kampala’s Economic Heart Beat

3rd July 2025 at 21:40
Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

John Bosco Muwonge: The Man Powering Kampala’s Economic Heart Beat

3rd July 2025 at 21:40
Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda