Kibuku, Uganda: The Bukedi Kingdom, known as Obwa Senkulu bwa Bukedi, has intensified calls for official recognition as it prepares to host the annual Kwakira Festival 2025, with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni expected to grace the occasion.
The festival is set for October 12 at Kataka Primary School playground in Tirinyi sub-county, Kibuku District.
Speaking to DailyExpress in an exclusive interview, Prince Lawrence Gonsya Loko, personal assistant to HRH Patrick Ndobooli Lyada II, said the celebration, translated from Lugwere as thanksgiving, goes beyond cultural ritual and serves as a rallying point for the Bakedi community to assert their identity.
“This is a historic occasion. We urge all residents of Bukedi to join hands and take part. Kwakira is not just thanksgiving but also a platform for cultural, religious, political, and business leaders to come together and showcase Bukedi’s identity,” Prince Gonsya remarked.
Unlike neighboring groups such as the Japadhola of Tororo, the Basamia of Busia, the Banyole of Butaleja, and the Bagwere of Pallisa, Kibuku, Butebo, and Budaka, Bukedi Kingdom remains ungazetted despite being one of Uganda’s twelve original constitutional monarchies before colonial disruptions in 1915.
The Kingdom is comprised of four chiefdoms; Bugwere, Bunyole, Samia Bugwe, and Adhola, reigniting the push for legal recognition to formalize its cultural and administrative role within Uganda’s framework.
The Festival’s organizing committee chairman, Mr Bumba Ian Martin said the 2025 festival offers an opportunity to reposition Bukedi as a vital cultural entity. “We are optimistic, but success depends on support from all stakeholders, including government and corporate players,” he noted.
In a message delivered on his behalf by Mr. Tawomerawo Edirisa, HRH Ndobooli Lyada II urged leaders in Bukedi to put aside political differences and prioritize regional solidarity. “The time for unity is now. Attending Kwakira is not just a cultural duty but a statement that Bukedi deserves its rightful place among Uganda’s recognized kingdoms,” he emphasized.
The administration led by Prime Minister Kamwada Harvey William has acknowledged challenges in raising awareness across Bukedi’s seven political districts but pledged to continue mobilizing support.
The kingdom has also appealed to historians and cultural custodians to contribute to documenting Bukedi’s heritage as part of its re-establishment.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
