Henry Wako Muloki
Encyclopedia
Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki, OBE, (February 18, 1921- September 1, 2008) was the Uganda
n Kyabazinga of Busoga
, the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Busoga
, the largest traditional kingdom
within Uganda
. Muloki first became Kyabazinga of Busoga in 1955, a position he held until Ugandan President
Milton Obote
abolished all traditional institutions
and kingdoms within the country in 1966. Muloki regained the title of Kyabazinga on February 11, 1995, after the Ugandan government restored the traditional kingdoms.
Muloki was the oldest surviving traditional ruler in Uganda at the time of his death in 2008 at the age of 87. He was the first recorded sitting Kyabazinga to die in office.
Muloki lost both his traditional title and kingdom in 1966 when the President of Uganda
, Milton Obote
, abolished all traditional titles and institutions
within Uganda. Obote's plan also disbanded the four traditional kingdoms within Uganda, including Muloki's own Kingdom of Busoga.
Muloki regained his title and crown on February 11, 1995, following the restoration of traditional institutions and kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Busoga, by the Ugandan government. Usually, the Kyabazinga is elected from within five of the eleven Busoga royal traditional chiefs
to be held for a specific period of time. However, when Muloki was elected Kyabazinga, the chiefs of the Busoga people decided that Muloki should rule for life in recognition of his leadership, life contributions and age.
Muloki was diagnosed with esophageal cancer
during the latter part of his reign. He underwent surgery for the disease in Italy in 2007. Muloki was further admitted to Kampala International Hospital in 2008. Shortly before his death, Muloki was hospitalized in India
for two weeks. He was so ill that he had to be flown back to Uganda in the country's Gulfstream IV-SP.
, the Inhebantu of Busoga
, died in November 2005. Two of Muloki's children reside in the United States and United Kingdom.
Muloki's body was taken to the National Assembly of Uganda
(Parliament) in Kampala
to lie in state
. He was then taken to Nakabango palace for a night vigil
. Following the Kampala commemorations, a public viewing then took place in Bugembe
, the seat of the Kingdom of Busoga. His body was then taken to Muloki's ancestral home in Kaliro District
for burial.
Under Busoga law, the sitting Busoga Prime Minister, Wilson Muwereza, who had served as Muloki's prime minister for over six years, and "the heads of the eleven royal chiefs who head clan lines" will run the Kingdom of Busoga following Muloki's death. The Prime Minister and eleven Busoga royal chiefs will jointly choose a successor and elect a new Kyabazinga within 60 to 90 days of Muloki's death.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n Kyabazinga of Busoga
Kyabazinga of Busoga
Isebantu Kyabazinga or Kyabazinga of Busoga is the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. Isebantu means "father of the people." This name was a symbol of unity derived from the expression and recognition by the people of Busoga that their leader was the "father of all people...
, the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Busoga
Busoga
Busoga is a traditional Bantu kingdom in present-day Uganda.It is a cultural institution that promotes popular participation and unity among the people of Busoga, through cultural and developmental programs for the improved livelihood of the people of Busoga. It strives for a united people of...
, the largest traditional kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
within Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. Muloki first became Kyabazinga of Busoga in 1955, a position he held until Ugandan President
President of Uganda
-List of Presidents of Uganda:-Affiliations:-See also:*Uganda*Vice President of Uganda*Prime Minister of Uganda*Politics of Uganda*History of Uganda*Political parties of Uganda...
Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
abolished all traditional institutions
Cultural institutions
Cultural institutions are elements within a culture/sub-culture that are perceived to be important to, or traditionally valued among, its members for their own identity. Examples of cultural institutions in modern Western society are museums, churches, schools, work and the print media.Television...
and kingdoms within the country in 1966. Muloki regained the title of Kyabazinga on February 11, 1995, after the Ugandan government restored the traditional kingdoms.
Muloki was the oldest surviving traditional ruler in Uganda at the time of his death in 2008 at the age of 87. He was the first recorded sitting Kyabazinga to die in office.
Biography
Henry Wako Muloki ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Busoga as Kyabazinga of Busoga (Isebantu Kyabazinga) in 1955 when he was 34 years old. Muloki succeeded the late Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope as Kyabazinga.Muloki lost both his traditional title and kingdom in 1966 when the President of Uganda
President of Uganda
-List of Presidents of Uganda:-Affiliations:-See also:*Uganda*Vice President of Uganda*Prime Minister of Uganda*Politics of Uganda*History of Uganda*Political parties of Uganda...
, Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
, abolished all traditional titles and institutions
Cultural institutions
Cultural institutions are elements within a culture/sub-culture that are perceived to be important to, or traditionally valued among, its members for their own identity. Examples of cultural institutions in modern Western society are museums, churches, schools, work and the print media.Television...
within Uganda. Obote's plan also disbanded the four traditional kingdoms within Uganda, including Muloki's own Kingdom of Busoga.
Muloki regained his title and crown on February 11, 1995, following the restoration of traditional institutions and kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Busoga, by the Ugandan government. Usually, the Kyabazinga is elected from within five of the eleven Busoga royal traditional chiefs
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
to be held for a specific period of time. However, when Muloki was elected Kyabazinga, the chiefs of the Busoga people decided that Muloki should rule for life in recognition of his leadership, life contributions and age.
Muloki was diagnosed with esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
during the latter part of his reign. He underwent surgery for the disease in Italy in 2007. Muloki was further admitted to Kampala International Hospital in 2008. Shortly before his death, Muloki was hospitalized in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for two weeks. He was so ill that he had to be flown back to Uganda in the country's Gulfstream IV-SP.
Death
Henry Wako Muloki died at the Mulago Hospital Cancer Institute in Kampala, Uganda, at 4 A.M. on September 1, 2008, at the age of 87. He was survived by his four sons and three daughters, including Princess Rebecca Muloki. His wife, Alice MulokiAlice Muloki
Alice Muloki was the Inhebantu of Busoga Kingdom in Uganda. She was the spouse of Henry Wako Muloki, the ruler of Busoga Kingdom, who was known as the Kyabazinga of Busoga....
, the Inhebantu of Busoga
Inhebantu of Busoga
Inhebantu of Busoga is the title given to the queen consort to the ruler of the Kingdom of Busoga – the Kyabazinga of Busoga. The most recent Inhebantu was Alice Muloki, who died on November 6, 2005....
, died in November 2005. Two of Muloki's children reside in the United States and United Kingdom.
Muloki's body was taken to the National Assembly of Uganda
National Assembly of Uganda
The Parliament of Uganda, comprises 215 Constituency Representatives, 79 District Woman Representatives, 10 Uganda People's Defence Forces Representatives, 5 Representatives of the Youth, 5 Representatives of Persons with Disabilities, 5 Representatives of Workers, and 13 Ex-officio Members.After...
(Parliament) in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
to lie in state
Lying in state
Lying in state is a term used to describe the tradition in which a coffin is placed on view to allow the public at large to pay their respects to the deceased. It traditionally takes place in the principal government building of a country or city...
. He was then taken to Nakabango palace for a night vigil
Vigil
A vigil is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance...
. Following the Kampala commemorations, a public viewing then took place in Bugembe
Bugembe
Bugembe is a town in Jinja District, Eastern Uganda. It is the seat of the Kingdom of Busoga, one of the four constitutional mornachies in Uganda, which is coterminus with Busoga sub-region.-Location:...
, the seat of the Kingdom of Busoga. His body was then taken to Muloki's ancestral home in Kaliro District
Kaliro District
Kaliro District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It was created out of the eastern part of Kamuli District in 2006, and is now a fully fledged district...
for burial.
Under Busoga law, the sitting Busoga Prime Minister, Wilson Muwereza, who had served as Muloki's prime minister for over six years, and "the heads of the eleven royal chiefs who head clan lines" will run the Kingdom of Busoga following Muloki's death. The Prime Minister and eleven Busoga royal chiefs will jointly choose a successor and elect a new Kyabazinga within 60 to 90 days of Muloki's death.