Nationality Ugandan Party Uganda National Congress | Died 14 August 1987 | |
Born August 1, 1894 ( 1894-08-01 ) Nsozibbiri, Masaka, Uganda Protectorate Political party Uganda National Congress Spouse(s) Victoria Kiganda, Elizabeth Nakato Children Margaret Nanfuka Mukasa, George Kalule Kiganda, Lucy Nakakande Kiganda Walusimbi | ||
Zefania Nkalubo Mulevu Kiganda Zefania Nkalubo Mulevu Kiganda of Kako, Masaka in Uganda was born in August 1893 at Nsozibbiri, in sub-kingdom of Kooki within the Kingdom of Buganda. He had three elder sisters namely Miriam Terwanaanya, Evelyn Kizza and Tolofiisa Nakayima, and one elder brother Isaac Wasswa Talutambudde. He was the last born of Salongo Pawulo and Nalongo Suzan Nampinga Nkalubo who first lived in Nsozibbiri, then they bought a bigger piece of land and migrated to Bukunda, in Rakai District.
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Zefania Kiganda was the grandson of Mulevu of Nsozibbiri, who in turn was the father of Pawulo Nkalubo, Nakikubye, Luswata and one girl Bulangazza. They all belonged to the Ngeye Clan. Salongo Pawulo Nkalubo and his wife Suzan were recent converts into the Anglican faith and were also wedded in their local church of the time in Nsozibbiri in the sub-kingdom of Kooki. Zefania Kiganda and his siblings were fortunate enough to be taken to the local bush schools or elementary schools of the missionaries and besides learning the catechism, they also picked up a number of vocational skills.
Zefania Kiganda’s mother, Suzan Nampinga Nkalubo was a sister to Reverend Canon Kayizzi, one of the very first African Anglican priests in Uganda. As a maternal uncle Rev. Can. Kayizzi had immense influence on his sister’s children to a point of having one of the children becoming a lay-leader in the Namirembe Diocese of the Anglican Church of Uganda. That was the elder brother of Zefania Kiganda, Isaac Wasswa Talutambudde. Isaac Wasswa later on was elected to serve on the Namirembe Diocese Synod and he represented the Anglican Christians in Kooki and Buddu Counties for many years on that Synod.
Entry into the Buganda Kingdom and Ugandan politics
It is also known that Zefania Kiganda was quite close to Sir Daudi Cwa II, Kabaka of Buganda (1897-1939) as well as Sir Edward Mutesa II, Kabaka of Buganda (1939-1969. This friendship had roots in the fact that Zefania Kiganda was related to both by blood through his mother, who was the paternal aunt to Lady Irene Druscilla Namaganda. Sir Daudi Chwa II had married Lady Irene Drusilla Namaganda daughter of Rev. Can. Kayizzi, maternal uncle to Zefania Kiganda and at the Royal Traditional wedding Zefania Kiganda’s mother Nalongo Suzan Nampinga Nkalubo, sister to Rev. Can. Kayizzi was the ssenga (paternal aunt) of Lady Irene Druscilla Namaganda. Lady Ireen Druscilla Namaganda was therefore a first maternal cousin to Zefania Kiganda. That brought about a very close and special relationship between the monarchs and Zefania Kiganda, and Zefania Kiganda enjoyed that relationship until the unfortunate demise of both monarchs.
Zefania Kiganda also greatly contributed to the pre-independence struggle for the independence of Uganda before 1962. He donated financially and in kind to the sustenance of the Uganda National Congress which had been founded by Ignatius K. Musaazi.
Career
Zefania Kiganda had the rare opportunity of sitting at the feet of Sir Albert Ruskin Cook when the latter traversed that part of the country treating and teaching the locals hygiene and medical skills. Zefania Kiganda had a short stint at Mengo Hospital Medical School from where he graduated as a Medical Assistant. He was later posted to Kako, Masaka at the CMS Hospital to do his internship from January 1919 to August 1920, and he was specifically attached to the Dispensary from where he learnt more about the dispensing of various common drugs. He was closely supervised by the Rev. Dr A. Clarke who in turn wrote a recommendation letter about Zefania Kiganda to the other various CMS health centers, enabling the latter to carry out his medical practice. Zefania Kiganda traversed very many areas in Buddu, Kooki and Kabula treating and training locals in hygiene and medical skills. He chose to settle on Kako Hill from where he wedded his long time friend Victoria, a young graduate from Mengo Hospital Nursing School. Victoria was niece to Sir Apolo Kagwa and having grown up in the aristocratic home of the Buganda Katikiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda, she had the most rare of opportunities to go to Gayaza High School and thereafter to Mengo Hospital Nursing School, from where she graduated as a Nursing Officer. One of their children, Lucy Nakakande Walusimbi, excelled at her nursing carrier and was honored by Queen Elizabeth II for her exemplary service to the world in over 28 countries, worldwide.
Philanthropy
Zefania Kiganda donated almost a fifth of the land where Kako Senior Secondary School is located in Masaka, Uganda.