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Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There are mixed reactions from subjects of Bunyoro Kingdom after only 100 people were invited to attend the 27th coronation anniversary of Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru.
The coronation anniversary also known as Empango is commemorated on June 11th annually to celebrate the day Iguru ascended to the throne.
During the celebrations, the King’s subjects and guests are treated to different cultural performances including dances, drama and poetry recitals.
However, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, only 100 guests have been invited for this year’s event.
Andrew Byakutaga, the Kingdom Prime Minister says the rituals will be performed inside the Palace and will only be witnessed by a few invited cultural leaders.
However, this has not gone down well with some of the Kingdom subjects who say they had eagerly been preparing for the event.
Gilbert Atagwireho, a resident of Hoima East Division in Hoima City says that the Empango is an important cultural event in the Bunyoro that brings love and unity.
Esther Kabadeda a resident of Kikuube district says during the coronation anniversary, many Kingdom subjects are treated to various cultural practices like Empango run, clan football competitions, omweso games which benefit the young subjects.
Geoffrey Tumwesige, a kingdom subject from the Hoima West division in Hoima city says Empango celebrations are an opportunity for some subjects to see the Kingdom and enjoy the rituals.
Rose Kyalisiima who operates a restaurant in Hoima City says that it is unfortunate they have limited the number of guests. She says that during the past Empango celebrations, they would earn big from the sale of food and drinks, which boosted their income.
Last year, Omukama Iguru suspended the coronation anniversary celebrations due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The Kingdom channeled all the money meant to finance the celebration to health facilities in the Bunyoro sub-region to enable them to purchase sanitizers, gloves, face masks and detergents among others to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
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