Butiko Clan head urges Baganda youth to embrace Kingdom service

What the report says

Butiko Clan head Jaaja Kawere Gunju Matiya has called on Baganda youth to take a more active role in Buganda Kingdom affairs while staying connected to their clan structures. According to Nile Post, he made the remarks in Wandagi, Gomba County, during a family and clan gathering that brought together members of the Nalumoso lineage for celebrations, songs, dancing and prayer.

The event was organized by the grandchildren to strengthen unity, reconcile differences, resolve family tensions and help relatives better understand their roots and history. A prayer session led by Rev. Emmanuel Wagaba opened the gathering, with an appeal for clan members to support one another and avoid becoming distant from their own families. Participants also exchanged gifts at the close of the meeting, including a goat presented to their grandfather.

Gunju said clan solidarity is important because, in his view, strong clans help support the wider Kingdom. He encouraged young people to use their skills and positions to contribute to clan and kingdom development, and urged Baganda, wherever they live, to prioritize both clan responsibilities and loyalty to Kabaka. The report also notes that he linked the message to wider cultural continuity and said clans remain a key foundation of Buganda identity.

The gathering also included condolences to the Tooro Kingdom over the loss of its ruler, which Gunju referenced as part of his broader remarks on respect for traditional leadership. In a general sense, such clan events remain important in Buganda for preserving family ties, cultural identity and cooperation across generations.