Lwomwa, the title held by the leader of Buganda’s Ndiga clan, witnessed a tragic incident last Sunday when the reigning head, Eng Daniel Bbosa, fell victim to assailants who targeted him with a hail of bullets as he traveled alone in his car, resulting in his instant demise.
This unsettling event happened in Lungujja Lubaga division as the clan head returned from weekend duties in the city. Three assailants on a motorcycle unleashed a barrage of bullets before swiftly escaping. In an uncommon turn of events, vigilant boda boda riders chased and subdued two of the assailants, with one succumbing to a mob beating and the other receiving medical attention at Mulago hospital while in handcuffs. The third assailant managed to evade capture.
Surprisingly, the identified perpetrators, Enock Sserunkuma (deceased) and Noah Luggya, shared names belonging to the clan their victim headed, revealing an unsettling twist of fate. The Ndiga clan promptly designated Eria Luggya Lwasi Buzaabo, the former premier, as their new clan head, presented to Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga and subsequently to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi.
Law enforcement apprehended another suspect, Milly Naluwenda, a resident of Lungujja and a clerk to the Buganda Kingdom traditional court. Communication logs indicated her constant contact with the assailants on the day of the incident.
Following the funeral service at Namirembe Christian Fellowship Church in Mengo, the late Ndiga Clan head is interred today in Mbaale, Mawokota, Mpigi district. Departing from conventional burial practices, Lwomwa’s body is enveloped in over 200 backcloths believed to preserve it for an extended period. His grave, dug at least 15 feet deep, conforms to the clan’s distinctive burial customs, taking place after sunset.
Although a hired casket briefly housed the departed at the church service, it has been replaced by hundreds of backcloths during the actual burial. The ceremony draws notable figures from the central government, Mengo establishment, and political parties, including the leader of the opposition in parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, NUP Principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, and Deputy Premier Prof Hajj Twaha Kigongo Kaawaase. The Ndiga Clan, one of Buganda’s 52 recognized clans, mourns the loss of their leader in a unique and solemn ritual.
