Mutesa II of Buganda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mutesa II
Mutesa II (at Budo)
Kabaka of Buganda
Reign	22 November 1939 – 21 November 1969
Coronation	19 November 1942 Budo, Uganda Protectorate
Predecessor	Daudi Cwa II of Buganda
Successor	Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda
1st President of Uganda
In office	4 October 1963 – 24 February 1966 (de jure) 4 October 1963 – 25 May 1966 (de facto)
Overthrow	25 May 1966
Predecessor	Elizabeth II (as Queen of Uganda) Sir Walter Coutts (as Governor-General of Uganda)
Successor	Milton Obote
Born	(1924-11-19)19 November 1924 Makindye, Uganda
Died	21 November 1969(1969-11-21) (aged 45) Rotherhithe, London, England
Burial	Kasubi Nabulagala
Consort	1. Naabakyaala Damali Catherine Nnakawombe, the Naabagereka 2. Lady Edith Kasozi 3. Omubiitokati Beatrice Kabasweka 4. Lady Kate Ndagire 5. Naabakyaala Sarah Nalule 6. Muzaana Nalwooga 7. Lady Nesta M. Rugumayo 8. Lady Kaakako Rwanchwende 9. Lady Winifred Keihangwe 10. Lady Zibiah Wangari Ngatho 11. Lady Catherine Karungu 12. Lady Naome Nanyonga 13. Lady Margaret Nakato
Issue	12 sons and 9 daughters
Full name Kabaka Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II, KBE
House	Abalasangeye dynasty
Father	Daudi Cwa II of Buganda
Mother	Namasole Irene Drusilla Namaganda

Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Mutesa II (also known as Muteesa) was a very important leader in Uganda. He was the Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1939 until his death in 1969. He was the 35th Kabaka of Buganda.

Mutesa II also became the first president of Uganda in 1963. People outside Uganda sometimes called him King Freddie. He strongly believed in protecting Buganda's traditions and its right to govern itself. This belief sometimes caused disagreements, especially with Milton Obote, who later became Prime Minister.

Mutesa became Kabaka when he was just 15 years old, after his father, Daudi Cwa II of Buganda, passed away. This was during the time when Uganda was under British rule. In 1953, he tried to make Buganda independent from a larger British plan for East Africa. Because of this, the British governor, Andrew Cohen, sent him away from Uganda. But the people of Buganda were very upset, and Mutesa was allowed to return two years later.

Before Uganda became independent in 1962, Mutesa joined a political group called Kabaka Yekka. This group worked with Milton Obote's party. After Uganda gained independence, Mutesa was chosen as the first President of Uganda in 1963. Obote became the Prime Minister. However, their alliance did not last. In 1966, Obote removed Mutesa from power, forcing him to leave Uganda and live in the United Kingdom. Mutesa II passed away there three years later.

Early Life of Mutesa II

Mutesa II was born in Makindye, Kampala, on November 19, 1924. He was the fifth son of Kabaka Daudi Cwa II of Buganda, who ruled from 1897 to 1939. His mother was Lady Irene Drusilla Namaganda.

When his father died on November 22, 1939, Mutesa was chosen as Kabaka by the Lukiiko (Buganda's Parliament). He was only 15 years old at the time. He was officially installed on November 25, 1939. Because he was so young, a group of regents helped him rule until he was old enough to take full power himself.

Education and Learning

Mutesa II went to King's College Budo, a well-known school in Uganda. After that, he traveled to England to continue his studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge University. While there, he joined the University Officer Training Corps. He later became a captain in the Grenadier Guards, a famous British army regiment.

Reign as Kabaka and President

Mutesa II was officially crowned as Kabaka on his 18th birthday, November 19, 1942, at Buddo. At this time, Buganda was still part of the Uganda Protectorate, which was controlled by the British Empire.

In the early 1950s, the British government thought about combining Uganda, Kenya, and Tanganyika into one large federation. Many Africans, especially the Baganda, worried that this would mean losing their freedom and being controlled by white settlers in Kenya. Mutesa II was strongly against this idea.

His opposition led to a disagreement with the British Governor, Sir Andrew Cohen. In 1953, the Lukiiko of Buganda wanted to become independent from the Uganda Protectorate. Mutesa demanded that Buganda be separated from the rest of Uganda. Governor Cohen responded by removing Mutesa from his position and sending him into exile on November 30.

This action caused huge protests among the Baganda people. They saw Mutesa as a hero. After two years of strong opposition from the Baganda, Governor Cohen had to allow "Kabaka Freddie" to return. Mutesa came back to Kampala on October 17, 1955. A new agreement was made that made him a constitutional monarch, meaning he would rule with a parliament. This event made Mutesa even more popular in Buganda.

In 1962, Uganda gained its independence from Britain. Milton Obote became the leader. Under Uganda's new constitution, the Kingdom of Buganda became a semi-independent part of the country. Obote and Mutesa's parties formed a coalition government.

On October 4, 1963, Mutesa was elected the first President of Uganda. This was a non-executive role, meaning he was the head of state, while Obote, as Prime Minister, was the head of government.

However, the alliance between Mutesa and Obote broke down in 1964. This happened because of a vote about two "lost counties" that were part of Buganda but had people who wanted to join Bunyoro. The people in these counties voted to return to Bunyoro, which Mutesa did not want.

The relationship got worse, leading to a major crisis in 1966. Obote faced problems within his own party. He arrested other important party members, then stopped the constitution and declared himself President in February 1966. This removed Mutesa from power.

In May 1966, Buganda's parliament declared that their agreement with Uganda was over. Obote responded by attacking the Kabaka's palace. Mutesa was forced to flee Uganda and went into exile in the United Kingdom. In 1967, a new constitution was created that ended all of Uganda's kingdoms, including Buganda.

The Final Years

While living in exile in London, Mutesa II wrote a book about his life called The Desecration of My Kingdom.

Mutesa passed away in his London home in 1969. His body was later returned to Uganda in 1971 after Obote was overthrown. He was given a state funeral at Kasubi Nabulagala, a royal burial ground. The president who arranged the funeral was Idi Amin.

Important Sayings

Mutesa II often spoke about the importance of Buganda's culture and identity. He said: "Our way of life has been changed – improved – in outside things by the British, but our basic beliefs and way of life have stayed... the feeling of who we are has remained."

He also explained his view on identity: "I have never been able to clearly define the difference between a tribe and a nation and see why one is seen as so bad and the other is so admired. Whatever we are, the Baganda have a common language, traditions, history, and way of thinking. We are proud of them, but not so much that we cannot be friends with – or marry if we wish – other people… our pride is fair."

People who knew him also said things about him:

• Apollo N. Makubuya described Mutesa II's life as "one of a young and ambitious African monarch who struggled to defend the heritage of his forefathers and free his people from the control of a powerful imperial authority."
• Rev. John Taylor, at Mutesa II's funeral, said: "... many will say that he was wrong to put the dreams of an old tribal glory against the needs of a modern African state; but no one can question how much he gave himself for his people and their well-being."

Family Life

Mutesa II married Lady Damali in 1948. He had many children with her and other women. His successor, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, is one of his sons.

Images for kids

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  Mutesa II (at Budo)

See also

• History of Uganda
• List of unsolved deaths
• Political parties of Uganda
• Politics of Uganda