Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has strongly condemned Nakawa East Member of Parliament, Ronald Balimwezo, for kneeling before National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, at a recent public event.
Speaking at a press conference held Thursday, July 10, 2025, at his office in Bulange, Mengo, Katikkiro Mayiga said the act, which was captured on camera and widely shared online, was “embarrassing, culturally offensive, and unacceptable in Buganda.”
“In Buganda, men only kneel for His Majesty the Kabaka, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. It is not our tradition for men to kneel before fellow men, especially not for political favor,” Mayiga stated firmly.
He described MP Balimwezo’s gesture during a NUP fundraising function as “immature” and “a threat to our cultural values.” The Katikkiro expressed concern that such behavior, if left unchecked, could erode long-standing norms and mislead the younger generation.
“Stop doing childish things like kneeling for other men,” it paints a very bad image. Bobi Wine is not a king he is a politician and a human being like everyone else. Politics should not make us lose our identity,” Mayiga warned.
He further urged Bobi Wine to guide his supporters and party members to respect cultural boundaries, saying: “You come from a society with traditions. Don’t let politics erase them.”
The Katikkiro also warned that if such behavior spreads, people may begin to fear that parties like NUP are introducing foreign cultures that undermine Uganda’s own.
“Let it end with Balimwezo. Our children are watching, and tomorrow they will copy what they see if we don’t stop it now,” he cautioned.
The kneeling incident has ignited a nationwide debate over political loyalty, respect, and cultural preservation, raising questions about how far politicians are willing to go for party favor and at what cost.
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