A mass of people swarmed Kaliro town yesterday to bid farewell to the late Kyabazinga, Henry Wako Muloki, at a state funeral attended by His Excellence the President of Uganda - Yoweri . K. Museveni.

It was a heroic send-off for the Isebantu (father of Busoga), gathering a 17-gun salute that echoed in the Vicinity.
It was prayers, tributes, praises, political posturing and lying of circlet as notables bid farewell to Muloki, 87, who yielded to cancer of the throat on Monday last week.
All the three arms of government were represented, with Museveni leading the executive, the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Sekandi, heading the legislature and the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, for the judiciary. Several delegations from the rest of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms also attended.
At 9:40am, pall bearers clad in police uniform rolled the casket from his 1930 huge house in Kaliro to the expansive compound where dignitaries assembled in large marquees. Ten minutes later, the Bishop of Busoga diocese, Michael Kyomya, led a long procession of the clergy to a service. Choirs and the police band played music.

Mid-way the service, notables were asked to lay circlet led by the President and the First Lady Janet.
Museveni moved to the procession, laid the wreath, moved one step backwards and removed his trademark hat as he regally bowed in the last physical greeting of his deceased friend.

Other VIPs followed suit. Among then was the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, deputy Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and his deputies Henry Kajura and Kirunda Kivejinja.

In the scorching heat that came before a downpour, a woman fainted and was carried away by Red Cross staff.

After a sermon by retired bishop Cyprian Bamwoze, Edward Wambuzi Muloki was pronounced heir to Muloki. Wambuzi, who has been assisting his father to administer the kingdom . He is known to be the youngest of the four sons.

Museveni, his wife, VIPs, the clergy and close family members proceeded to the graveyard for the official burial ceremony.

The rest of the mourners were asked to remain seated. However, hundreds of curious mourners watched the burial through the temporary fence. Even the rainstorm did not dissuade them.

During the burial proceedings, a police officer blew a bugle in a ritual that is reserved for VIPs and military officers as other pall bearers drew their swords in salutation.

Then off went the seventeen-gun salute. The casket was then lowered by pulley into the yellow-blue-brown tiled grave.
The burial sounds of the Ntukire drum, sounded only to announce the death and burial of a Soga king, could be heard in the background.

When the VIPs left the graveside, other guests and clansmen were called to participate in the burial rituals.

In the Busoga Culture, as the Kyabazinga is buried, the Ntukire drum is sounded and a cow speared, a ritual that is not witnessed by princes.
According to tradition, Muloki was buried facing the direction of Bunyoro kingdom where Mukama Namutukula, the founding ruler of Busoga, came from.

Mourners were served food, bottled water and soda. The Government donated 11 cows to the 11 royal clans of Busoga.

According to gender minister Syda Bbumba, who handed over the animals, they will be used to perform the rituals that follow the burial of a Busoga king.

Uganda is one of the countries that has got various unique and interesting cultural attributes.

By Tanah Hadijah

Uganda Travel News