By Eumu Emmanuel
Jinja, Uganda — Amid swirling political rumors, online vitriol, and a wave of public speculation, the Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, has chosen the path of quiet strength, reminding the nation and his people that leadership is not always about loud declarations, but about purpose-driven action.
For nearly two months, whispers of the Kyabazinga’s “disappearance” dominated both digital and traditional media, prompting concern and even suspicion about the state of Busoga’s leadership.
Matters reached a fever pitch when First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga recently alleged that “unscrupulous individuals” had hijacked the Kingdom.
But on Friday, April 4th, a carefully worded statement from Busoga Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Dr. Joseph Muvawala struck a chord of clarity and command.
“Nobody is bigger than Busoga,” he said — a phrase now echoing across the Kingdom with defiant pride.
Dr. Muvawala, also Executive Director of Uganda’s National Planning Authority, made it clear: the Kyabazinga is not missing.
He is actively serving the people of Busoga, not with fanfare, but with focused dedication to the Kingdom’s foundational mission — fighting disease, poverty, and ignorance.
This is not the first time traditional institutions in Uganda have come under pressure or been dragged into political storms.
But for the Kyabazinga, neutrality is not a weakness; it is the Kingdom’s strength.
“The Kyabazinga is a cultural leader, a father figure to all in Busoga, and no individual or group holds sway over him,” Muvawala asserted.
He dismissed all suggestions of internal power struggles, emphasizing that the monarch travels frequently to engage in educational, economic, and diplomatic initiatives both locally and abroad — all for the benefit of his people.
The statement also addressed rumours of illegal land transactions, placing the blame on historical complications with land titles, while assuring that no land can be leased or transferred without the Prime Minister’s authorization.
Significantly, the Kingdom reaffirmed its apolitical position. “If anyone working with the Kingdom desires to enter politics, they must resign first,” Muvawala warned, signalling a return to cultural discipline and constitutional order.
Yet perhaps the most compelling part of this unfolding narrative is what it reveals about the Kyabazinga’s style of leadership: firm, focused, and deeply rooted in service — not showmanship.
Busoga’s monarchy is proving that tradition and development are not enemies. The Kingdom’s silent resilience in the face of manufactured crises may very well be its loudest message yet