{UAH} “Why more non-Baganda love the Kabaka Now” A response by JB Wasswa

"Why more non-Baganda love the Kabaka Now" A response by JB Wasswa 

by Joachim Buwembo

As more intellectuals try to explain the Kabaka's growing appeal to non-Baganda, a journalism guru weighs in saying it is not so much the popularity of Luganda language, nor the shortcomings of the state as earlier scholars have argued. Rather, he finds the answer in hundreds of non Baganda friends of young Baganda. Media expert and university lecturer JB Wasswa has this to say in response to Joachim Buwembo's earlier account for the vanishing antagonism against the Buganda monarchy

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Very interesting pieces. I tend to agree with both, more with Joachim. But also note that despite the traditional set up, this is also a modern monarchy, with a young Katikkiro, young Baganda elites at Mengo. Just look at the launch of the BBS Telefayiina and see the presence of young, wealthy looking, corporate Baganda who were moving things. All this new generation have hundreds of non-Baganda friends and in-laws who do not have hangovers of yester years, the nugi of their parents generation.

Also consider the fact that during Obote's time, and Amin's too, people were posted to good govt schools all over the country as a way of building nationalism. And in a way it worked. Now many of those schools have collapsed, instead many new private schools have been built, especially in Buganda, and these schools are the nursery bed of the new Buganda nationalism, which also keeps attracting youths. Every school and university you go too in Buganda, except public universities, the Buganda flag flies alongside the school flag, Uganda flag and sometimes EA flag. Each has a branch of Nkoba za Mbogo with its signposts welcoming you to the school. These are not just schools, but inculturation centres.

But the Kabaka, has disproved skeptics of the mid 1980s and 1990s. He is modern in outlook and encouraged acceptance of the status quo, the republican nature of the country today. The assimilation takes a many subtle forms. " Abantu ba Ssabasajja" is all embracing.

In 1994, I was one of election observers in Denmark where we interacted with a very popular Queen. She would ride a bike in Coopenhagen Streets and people would be overjoyed. We asked some young people why they loved the Queen so much. The answer was simple: She is the symbol of good conscience. I think this is also the main point Joachim is positing.

Angelo has been so touched by the question of language. He too has a point. It is not just the lingua franca in the country, but it is also a key to acceptability in Buganda. It opens doors. Two things will make a Muganda your friend: speak Luganda and respect the Kabaka, the rest will fall in place. As a language, it is also a more convenient way to communicate for people who do not understand English in most parts of the country. We have featured on talk shows where we spoke Luganda at the request of moderators and people asked questions in their languages… from Kisoro, Mbarara, Kasese to Mbale.
The language factor can also be understood from the versatile way it is popularized through radio, TV and especially musicians. These in particular lead in word construction in modern and social Luganda. The Corporate companies add another dimension in technological and scientific Luganda. And as a language of commerce, new expressions are born everyday: Indeed as both Joachim and Angelo note, even on the ATM machines.

Luganda also simplifies for many the difficult concepts that come with modernity. If it there is no simple equivalent, simply Gandanise the word. (Biici, bbeting, netiwaka, yintaneti)

Of course not to mention new coinages like nnyongeza, buli woli nkufuna, kagwirawo, beerako etc). Have you noticed how Coca Cola has added spices to all this? Bottles now have crazy things like: njokya akafuba, maaso mbira, kawoomera etc.

It is not just a language, it is quite romantic and to the occasion.

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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