The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has paid tribute to the late Duchess of Kent, Katharine Kent, who passed away peacefully at Kensington Palace, West London on Thursday at the age of 92.
Taking to his social media platforms on Monday, Mayiga expressed his condolences to the British Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom, noting the Duchess’s unique connection to Uganda’s history.
“The death of the Duchess of Kent has been received with deep sadness. On 8th October 1962, a day before Uganda’s Independence, the Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, and the Duchess were received by Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II at Bulange, Mengo, where the instruments that had turned Buganda into a British Protectorate were formally rescinded to necessitate the sovereignty of Independent Uganda on 9th October 1962,” Mayiga said.
The Duchess’s death, he added, brings to mind her significant role in Uganda’s independence journey.
On October 7, 1962, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, arrived at Entebbe International Airport at 11 a.m. to represent Queen Elizabeth II during the historic independence celebrations. He was accompanied by the Duchess, who stood by his side throughout the proceedings.
The royal couple was received by then-Governor Sir Walter Coutts, Kabaka Edward Muteesa II, Prime Minister Milton Obote, Cabinet ministers, and Members of Parliament.
The Duke inspected a guard of honour mounted by the 4th Battalion of the King’s African Rifles before proceeding to Government House, now State House Entebbe.
At exactly midnight on 9th October , 1962 the Duke and Duchess of Kent joined thousands of Ugandans at Kololo Airstrip , today known as Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, where the Union Jack was lowered and the new black, yellow, and red flag of Uganda was hoisted for the first time.
It was there that the Duke read Queen Elizabeth’s message of goodwill, while the Duchess stood alongside him, symbolising Britain’s formal handover of sovereignty.
Away from the official ceremonies, the Duchess also attended a canoe regatta at Entebbe harbour, where she mingled with Ugandans during the festivities.
Photographs from the time show her smiling warmly among the country’s leaders and citizens, an enduring image of Uganda’s first moments as an independent nation.
The Duchess of Kent, who became the oldest living member of the British Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, will be laid to rest on 16 September following a funeral service at Westminster Cathedral.