As it is told, one must invite the Queen of Buganda at least four months in advance to have any chance of her gracing your event with her royal company. Four months. This is as it is told.
We didn't have four months. We didn't have three months. Or even two. We planned to open the cultural center in just five weeks; the weekend of July 3rd.
Friday May 28 an invitation was hand delivered by the Head of School Martha Mukasa, to the office of the Queen of Buganda, Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda. We invited the Nnabagereka (Luganda for 'Queen') to the opening of the cultural center. We were hoping for a miracle and I, being a believer of miracles, thought it was possible. From where I sit on this side of the Atlantic, the cultural center went from an idea, to a corner of the library, to its own building, to a live entity with a supernatural power spreading like bush fire in the dry season, leaving no life untouched. Instead of scorching, it was emblazing the community with inspiration and belonging. It seemingly was commanding its own creation and dictating what was to be. Would the Queen come? I thought it was likely.
Monday, May 31st, just four days later, not four months, the personal assistant of the Queen confirmed her Royal Highness' presence at the Grand Opening of the cultural center. Saturday July 3rd.
The Queen was going to come!
My children and I will meet the Queen of Buganda! All of Brain Tree is going to meet the Queen! The village is going to meet the Queen! The cultural center has grown in its importance to a larger population and this population now includes Her Royal Highness, the Nnabagereka. I guess it is OK to capitalize the c's in Cultural Center now.
Mweebale nyo bajjajja. Mukama akuwe omukisa.
~ Her Royal Highness the Nnabagereka (Queen) Sylvia Nagginda is the wife of the King of Buganda, King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. She is a traditional and cultural leader of the people of Buganda.
Her Royal Highness Sylvia Nagginda is the first Nnabagereka (Queen) in the history of the Buganda Kingdom to set up a fully-fledged Office, a very crucial phenomenon that has greatly complimented the ongoing development work in the Kingdom and Uganda at large.
Her main focus areas are early childhood care and development; education for the girl child; vocational training and employment for the youth; empowerment of women, health issues particularly regarding the prevention and cure of childhood diseases, nutrition, and sexual reproductive health including the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
A pillar of development, Her Royal Highness established the Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF) in 2000. The Foundation is a charitable Non-Governmental Organization whose mission is to restore the vitality of Buganda and Uganda at large by marshaling community and household human resources for socio-economic development. ~ from http://ndfuganda.org
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