Kooki Schools Drop Buganda Anthem

More than 30 schools and technical institutions in Rakai district have dropped the Buganda anthem ‘Ekitiibwa kya Buganda’ and replaced it with ‘Ekula lya Kooki’, the Kooki anthem.  

This follows an ongoing campaign to popularize the Kooki anthem, Kooki flag and history in private and government schools, which pay special allegiance to Kooki Chiefdom.

The campaign is led by the Kamuswaga Apollo Ssansa Kabumbuli II through his Culture/Tourism and Education and Sports ministries.

A number of schools and institutions in Ddwaniro, Lwanda, Kagamba and Kacheera Sub-counties now hoist the Uganda and Kooki flags and sing both the national and Kooki anthems at their assemblies and special events.  

They include among others St. John’s Kasambya, St. Jude Nalubaale, Kyamakanaga, Kirangira, Nezikokolima, Lugando, Ddwaniro, Lyakasaana, Katatenga, Nyakaseenyi, Kacheera parents, Nyakagando, Akakiri, United p/s and Parents’ Academy.

Others are Glory secondary school in Dwaniro sub-county, Mbuye Agricultural School and Kamengo in Lwanda s/c and Kacheera Technical institutes in Kacheera sub-county.     

Godfrey Mutaawe, the Head teacher Kirangira primary school, says it was essential to adopt the Kooki anthem because the institution has done so much to promote education by providing scholarships to learners. 

He says dozens of books containing the Kooki anthem and flags have been distributed. 

Betty Nakalemba, the head teacher Nezikookolima primary school in Kagamba sub-county, says parents and teachers convened several meetings and resolved to stop singing the Buganda anthem alias ‘Ekitibwa kya Buganda.”

 

She argues that 97 percent of their pupils are Bakooki, whose values need to be respected and promoted. 

Leonard Kons, the head teacher Katatenga Primary School in Kacheera Sub County, says they only had the Uganda national anthem for over years.  

He notes that parents who are typical Bakooki also rejected the Buganda anthem, saying they wanted their own anthem. 

Dickson Ssebyala, the Kooki Cultural Minister, says the campaign is aimed at ensuring Kooki values remain entrenched in the hearts of the subjects.    

He says Kooki was redundant in the past and could hardly promote its own values. 

Kooki officially launched its flag and anthem about 6 years ago amidst protests from Buganda Kingdom officials who claimed it wanted to break away.  

But Ssebyala says that Kooki was already an independent institution and the move was long overdue. 

Fred Kasozi, the Kooki Minister for Education and Sports, explains that the campaign has enabled local communities and school children to understand and appreciate Kooki’s history.     

He notes that the campaign is meant to build a strong generation that will stand firm to protect, treasure and promote their values. 

The decision to stop the Buganda anthem has drawn concern from Buganda subjects living in Kooki. They claim that the rights of their children have been infringed upon.    

A parent who preferred anonymity says her two children in Nezikookolima primary school have a right to sing ‘ekitiibwa kya Buganda’ because it is what they subscribe to.   

  Damiano Luswata, another parent appeals to head teachers to reinstate the Buganda anthem, saying they can keep both anthems. While presiding over an event in Kacheera sub-county recently, the Kamuswaga pledged to offer more bursaries for disadvantaged children regardless of their ethnicity.

 

He urged parents, pupils and students to be proud of Kooki and treasure their cultural values.  He further reiterated that Kooki is among the 13 independent cultural institutions gazatted under the Traditional or Cultural Leaders act, 2011 with hereditary heads.   

Al-haji Idi Ahmed Kiwanuka, the Kooki Prime minister, explains that Kooki, like other kingdoms has a leader, flag, anthem, traditional drums, history and other elements that make it independent.  

Dr. Prosperous Nankindu, Buganda’s Development, Health, Education, Women and Gender Minister, says they are not aware of the ongoing campaign.  

Joseph Kawuuki, Buganda State Minister for Local government, told URN that Kooki is free to promote its anthem as a sign of identity without infringing on pupils rights. 

He said there is actually no big deal since all counties and clans under Buganda have composed their own anthems.