The cultural and tribal King of Buganda Kingdom, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II yesterday received a fully refurbished Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, which was first owned and used by his father Sir Edward Muteesa II, as a birthday gift.
For several years, the vehicle deteriorated at State House in Kampala, before it was relocated to the Uganda Museum in 2013.
This iconic and historical luxury car was moved and stayed at the museum in 2013 until government handed it over to Buganda kingdom in 2020.
The post-colonial government that had taken power after Uganda attained her independence bought the luxury car in 1964 for Kabaka Muteesa, who was also the first president of Uganda.
Following a series of political events which unfolded thereafter, Dr. Milton Obote’s forces confiscated the car, along with other kingdom properties, during the 1966 raid on the Lubiri palace.
Historical records show that were about four cars of a similar make but their whereabouts are unknown.
During his speech to journalists and members of the media during the celebrations to mark the Kabaka’s 67th birthday at Bulange-Mengo on Sunday, the Katikkiro (premier) of Buganda Kingdom, Mr Charles Peter Mayiga, revealed that in September 2020, the government returned the car as a sign of a strong partnership between the kingdom and the state.
“Buganda Kingdom got the idea of restoring the vehicle and the Kabaka accepted it. We announced the plans to repair and rebrand the Rolls Royce, which the central government handed back to us after several years of reminding them,” said Buganda’s Prime Minister Charles Mayiga.
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He stated that after handing over the vehicle to the King’s brother, Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja, the kingdom constituted a seven-member committee headed by Mr John Fred Kiyimba to spearhead the car’s restoration process.
“The budget for the whole restoration was UGX500m and the first fundraising lunch of 48 Buganda officials made UGX300m. The committee paid the balance of UGX200m,” Mr Mayiga said.
The Buganda premier also said that a similar second-hand car, that was manufactured 48 years ago, had to be imported for the sole purpose of getting spare parts from it.
The latest model of Rolls-Royce Phantom 2020 costs between $705,900 (about UGX2.5billion) for the basic trim level Sedan Phantom (base) and $1.1m (about UGX4billion) for the top of the range Sedan Phantom EWB.
The Kabaka’s birthday celebrations have been marked with several activities, including the birthday run, which was held on 3rd July 2022, and several other in-house and private celebrations.
The Kabaka was supposed to celebrate his 67th birthday on 13th April earlier this year but the cultural monarch was away in Europe.
