The Nnabagereka is the official title of the Queen consort of the Kingdom of Buganda, a traditional kingdom in modern-day Uganda. The current Nnabagereka is Sylvia Nagginda, who married Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda on 27 August 1999.[1]

History

This title is a relatively recent one, created in the 20th century. Previously, Buganda tradition had only the King's mother (the Nnamasole, "Queen mother") and one of his sisters (the Lubuga, or "Queen sister") as nationally preeminent and powerful. The Nnamasole and the Lubuga each had their respective compounds in the Royal Palace, and the degree of political dominance and influence each held varied from reign to reign. The King's principal wife was meanwhile referred to as the Kaddulubaale, a title that was also held by the principal wife in any household in the kingdom.[2]

King Chwa II (reigned 1899-1939) was the first king whose wife, Lady Irene Nnamaganda, was considered to be foremost among Buganda women. The title Nnabagereka—originally a girl's name from the Mushroom Clan—was chosen as the title of the most pre-eminent woman in the Kingdom.[2]

Currently

The current Nnabagereka is a champion of human rights, women's rights and the rights of children, especially the girl child. She is an admired role model in Buganda, where she is referred to as "Maama wa Buganda", meaning "Mother of the Buganda Nation". Recently she has been a vocal supporter of better working conditions for government teachers ad health workers.[3]

She is the first Nnabagereka in the history of the kingdom to set up a fully fledged office. In 2000, she established the Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF). The Foundation is a charitable non-government organization, whose mission is to restore the vitality of Buganda and Uganda at large by "marshaling community and household human resources for social and economic development".[4]

References

  1. ↑ Nicholas Wassajja (27 August 2019). "Thank you for wonderful work, Kabaka to Nnabagereka". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 John Roscoe. The Baganda. London: Frank Cass.
  3. ↑ Conrad Ahabwe (15 April 2019). "Nabagereka Blasts Government For Neglecting Health Sector At Her Father's Funeral". Kampala: PML Daily. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Buganda Kingdom (5 June 2020). "Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF)". Mengo, Kampala: Buganda Kingdom Official Website. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
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