Prince Badru Kakungulu: 35 years after his demise, his legacy is still intact

Prince Hajji Badru Kakungulu Wasajja alias Mbuga, holds a special place in Ugandan football echelons.

As a Royal, he was one of the greatest promoters, administrators, educationalists, and financiers of the game of football. He was a goodwill ambassador for the sport, after whom Uganda’s premier knockout football tournament was named.

This weekend, both SC Villa and Kitara FC will be fighting for honours in that cup, which is now known as the Stanbic Uganda Cup. Kakungulu’s story dates back to being the titular head of the Muslim community during the colonial and post-colonial period at Kibuli hill for decades.

He championed education among the Muslim com- munity for years as well. But aside from the honour of the “Kakungulu Cup”, little is known about Kakungulu’s immense contribution to the development of the game right from the 1920s.

Friday, April 24 marked 35 years of Kakun- gulu’s passing. It was on April 24, 1991, that Kakungulu, aged 84 died, at Kibuli hospital. He was buried right adjacent to the Kibuli Mosque.

But in remembering and celebrating his life, just a month ago, his family held Dhua (prayers) at Prince Dr Kassim Nakibinge’s residence. During this function, Kakungulu was praised for his mammoth contribution towards the Islamic faith. He worked tirelessly in spreading the faith around the country.

MAKING HEADLINES

Kakungulu’s football roots can be traced at Kings College Budo, where he learned the game during his youthful days. He could later captain the Old Budonians football club, one of the pioneer clubs in Ugandan football.

Apart from the expatriates who helped promote football in the country, Kakungulu joined hands with influential figures at the time to work for the game. They included: Kabaka of Buganda Sir Daudi Chwa, Kintu Sebaana, Eriasafu Nsobya, Jolly Joe Kiwanuka and Rev. Polycarp Kakooza among others.

The above people pioneered the formation of the Uganda Football Association (UFA), which later transformed into the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa). UFA was formed on April 4, 1924, with Sir Daudi Chwa II as its chairman deputised by Ezekeri Wako, Tito Winyi and the Omukama of Bunyoro.

But later on, Kakungulu was elected UFA Vice chairman, a role which got him to work closely with his nephew, Daudi Chwa. Being a football fanatic, Kakungulu worked hard for the game by traversing the country to scout players for Buganda and the national team.

He also used his influence to solicit funds to support the game. Sir Daudi Chwa was a busy man, so, he delegated much of his UFA work to Kakungulu, to the satisfaction of the Kabaka.

After a decade at the helm of UFA, the Kabaka’s tenure ended, passing the mantle to W.A. Hunter, an expatriate. However, Kakungulu remained active in football matters. He initiated the Buganda Football Association (BFA) a body to which he was chairman for a long time.

He played an integral role in the establishment of Masaza Cup, the Bika football tournament and the Buganda football team. Kakungulu, alongside the late Jolly Joe Kiwanuka, and Reverend Polycarp Kakooza are credited for building a formidable Buganda football team which dominated the Aspro Cup (region tournament).

This tournament was used to select the national team. Kakungulu, through his influence in the Buganda Kingdom, went on to mobilize funds, which were used to construct the Muteesa II stadium at Wankulukuku.

With the support of Jolly Joe Kiwanuka, Kakungulu chaired Muteesa II stadium’s Board of Trustees from the 1960s until his death in 1991. He was a staunch supporter of Express FC, and served as the team’s Patron since its formation in 1959 up to 1983 when he passed the mantle to Canon Rabbi Mulondo.

Kakungulu used to represent the Ssabataka Prince Ronald Muwenda Mutebi at the time to officiate as chief guest at Bika football tournaments. And his last one was the 1990 final between Nkima and Lugave at Nakivubo Stadium.

Notably, one of Kakungulu’s last sporting moves was the hosting of the victorious Uganda Cranes team to a grand dinner early in January 1991. This was in appreciation of their triumphant victory at the 1990 Cecafa Cup.

During that dinner, Kakungulu’s message to the players was to keep the winning mentality and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992.

On that background, during a 1991 Fufa executive (headed by John Baptist Ssemanobe) meeting, they decided to rename the Uganda Cup tournament to the Kakungulu Cup.

ISLAMIC HEROICS

Kakungulu was a son to the late Nuhu Mbogo Kyabasinga (whose burial ground is quite prominent at Kawempe Mbogo), and a grandson to Ssekabaka Ssuna II.

His father was credited for the spreading of the Islamic faith in and outside Buganda. The late Kakungulu did not only serve Ugandan football diligently but he also pioneered education among the Muslim community.

He spear-headed the formation of Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA), the body which emphasized Islamic and secular education among Muslims. The formation of UMEA helped to build strong schools like Kibuli SS, Gombe SS, Nabisunsa Girls SS and Kawempe Muslim SS among others.

To show his seriousness towards education among the Muslim community, Kakungulu donated 80 acres of land at Kibuli hill. The land houses Kibuli Mosque, Kibuli SS, Kibuli PTC, Kibuli Demonstration School, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Kakungulu Memorial SS, Kibuli Hospital among others. While I can go on and on about the late Prince Kakungulu, I will stop here for now!

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