Her Royal Highness Sylvia Nagginda, the Nnaabagereka of Buganda, turns 56 today. In celebration of her birthday, we combed through history, for some of the things we feel you need to know her.
- Please note that the right spelling is ‘Nnaabagereka’, which is the official title for Queen in Buganda Kingdom.
- Unlike other women who take on their husbands’ names, women who join the Royal family in Buganda do not take on their husbands names.
- Sylvia Nagginda was born on 9 November 1964 in the United Kingdom.
- She is the daughter of John Mulumba Luswata of Nkumba, Busiro; and Rebecca Nakintu. She is the granddaughter of Mr. George William Musoke and Mrs. Nora Musoke of Nazzigo, Kyaggwe; and Omutaka Nelson Nkalubo Sebugwawo and Mrs. Catherine Sebugwawo of Nkumba. They have since passed on.
- She has three brothers and three sisters.
- She was born in the United Kingdom and raised in Uganda, she lived in the United States for 18 years before getting married to Kabaka Mutebi II in a historical ceremony on August 27, 1999; at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe.
- Sylvia attended Lake Victoria Primary School, Gayaza Junior School and Wanyange Girls School before proceeding to the United States where she earned her Associates Degree with Honours from City University of New York, a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University and a Master of Arts degree, with Distinction, from New York Institute of Technology. Her major field of study was Public Relations, including economics, journalism and corporate communications.
- Sylvia gained most of her professional experience in the United States. She worked as a Research Consultant at the United Nations headquarters, as a Proposal Writer with MAXIMUS, Inc. and GKA Inc., and worked as an independent consultant in public relations and business development. She has applied her skills in fields such as public information, economic research, health care and human services, and international non-profit activities.
- Sylvia and the Kabaka had known each other for a number of years, but their romance blossomed in 1998, leading to the announcement of their engagement on Valentine’s Day February 14, 1999. On that day, Kabaka Mutebi formally introduced Sylvia to members of his family and the Katikkiro. On March 14th, the Katikkiro led a 20-person delegation to Sylvia’s family to pay their respects on behalf of the Kabaka. On March 15, 1999; the Katikkiro, during a historic sitting of the Lukiiko at Mmengo, formally informed the whole of Buganda about the forthcoming marriage.
- The announcement was greeted with joy and goodwill from Baganda and other well wishers, at home and abroad.
- Through her philanthropic spirit she founded the Nnabagereka Development Foundation – NDF, a charitable organisation that leverages culture for development. While it is an independently registered organisation, it’s part of the Buganda Kingdom structure.
- Since its founding in 2000, the Foundation has actively been involved in making a positive difference in the lives of children, youth and women in Uganda and elsewhere. One of their flagship events is the annual Kisaakate, a youth retreat that aims at educating and sensitising young people about how to observe the Kiganda culture. Since its inception in 2008, it has groomed more than 30,000 young people.
- She’s also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, a role she has used to raise awareness of the value of educating girls.
- In 2004, she founded Kampala Ballet and Modern Dance School (KB&MDS) , the first of its kind in the country, with the aim of providing an appropriate dance for the young, from which they could share positive experiences.
Credit: Buganda.com
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