By Infora Media
Kampala — The Orthodox Church in Uganda has launched an organising committee to coordinate preparations for the 71st birthday celebrations of the Buganda Kingdom monarch, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
The committee was unveiled during a ceremony at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral Namungoona in Kampala, where the main thanksgiving prayers marking the Kabaka’s birthday will be held on April 13.
Church leaders said the committee will oversee planning, mobilisation of faithful, and coordination of activities leading up to the annual celebrations, which attract thousands of Buganda subjects, religious leaders and well-wishers.
Metropolitan Jeronymos Muzeeyi, the head of the Orthodox Church in Uganda, said the church considers it a great honour to host the prayers for the Kabaka’s birthday this year.
“We are grateful for the trust given to the Orthodox Church to organise this important event. It is a moment for the faithful and the people of Buganda to come together in prayer and thanksgiving for the Kabaka’s leadership,” he said.
Officials said the newly formed committee will coordinate logistics, public mobilisation and collaboration with the Buganda Kingdom administration to ensure the celebrations are organised successfully.
The Orthodox Church joins other religious institutions that have previously hosted the Kabaka’s birthday thanksgiving prayers, a tradition that reflects the close relationship between Buganda’s cultural leadership and faith communities in Uganda.
Organisers noted that preparations have already begun, with the church working closely with kingdom officials to ensure the celebrations are conducted in a dignified and well-coordinated manner.
Every year on April 13, subjects of the Buganda Kingdom celebrate the birthday of Kabaka Mutebi II, an occasion that has become one of the most significant events on the kingdom’s cultural calendar.
The celebrations usually bring together religious leaders, government officials, cultural leaders and members of the public to reflect on the Kabaka’s leadership and the unity of the Buganda people.
Kabaka Mutebi II has ruled Buganda since 1993, following the restoration of traditional kingdoms by the government. During his reign, he has championed cultural preservation, community development initiatives and public health campaigns across the kingdom.
Several activities are expected to precede the main birthday event, including the annual Kabaka Birthday Run organised by the Buganda Kingdom.
The run, which usually attracts thousands of participants from across the country, is aimed at raising awareness about health issues affecting communities, particularly the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Officials say this year’s celebrations will focus on promoting unity, community well-being and cultural pride among the people of Buganda.
The thanksgiving prayers at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral Namungoona are expected to be the highlight of the celebrations, drawing thousands of faithful and supporters to mark the Kabaka’s 71st birthday.