Princes and princesses from various royal lineages in Buganda Kingdom have gathered at Jinja Mawuuno and the Palace of Omulongo Kato Mayanja in Sseguku, Kyaddondo, to offer thanksgiving prayers for the blessings, stability and progress realised during 2025.
The prayers were conducted in line with Buganda cultural and traditional beliefs and were led by His Royal Highness Prince Ssaalongo Edirisa Luwangula Basajjansolo, the Head of the Royal Clan and Chairperson of the Cultural and Traditional Council in the Buganda Kingdom.
Luwangula said the decision to convene at the two sites was deliberate and deeply symbolic, reflecting the Kingdom’s broader cultural vision.
“We chose to convene at these places as a clear sign that the Kingdom has a well-defined plan to develop and upgrade all royal palaces to a standard that reflects their true cultural and historical value,” Luwangula said.
He used the occasion to criticise individuals who openly attack or ridicule Buganda’s culture and traditions, saying such actions stem from ignorance rather than informed understanding.
“Those who abuse our culture and traditions often do not know what they are doing. They need guidance and education about their heritage. It is very unfortunate for someone not to know where they come from,” he said.
Luwangula emphasised the importance of gratitude and prayer, particularly at the ancestral shrine of the twin spirits Wasswa and Kato Mayanja in Sseguku, which holds spiritual significance within Buganda tradition.
“It is very important to thank God and to pray at the shrine of the twins Wasswa and Kato Mayanja. We believe they help unlock and clear away all that hinders progress,” he said.
He added that this belief has informed the Kingdom’s decision to renovate and restore royal palaces as part of an ongoing cultural revitalisation effort.
The thanksgiving ceremony attracted several notable guests, including Gaggawala of Biggy Herbal Clinic in Kajjansi, traditional music artist Kiggundu Basajjabaka, Jjajja Budhagaali from Busoga, as well as numerous princes and princesses representing different royal centres.
Organisers said the gathering reaffirmed Buganda Kingdom’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, strengthening spiritual values and fostering unity through respect for tradition and ancestral identity.