Queen Sylvia of Buganda
| Sylvia Nagginda | |
|---|---|
| Born | London, UK |
| Residence | Kireka, Uganda |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Ethnicity | Muganda |
| Citizenship | Uganda |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts City University of New York, New York, USA Master of Arts New York Institute of Technology, New York, USA. |
| Years active | 1998 — present |
| Home town | Kireka |
| Title | Nnabagereka |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Spouse | Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II |
Sylvia Nagginda (born November 9, 1964) is the current Nnabagereka or Queen of Buganda, a historic kingdom in modern day Uganda.
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[edit] Background
Sylvia Nagginda was born in England in 1964 to John Mulumba Luswata, of Nkumba-Entebbe, and Rebecca Nakintu Musoke[1] and returned to Uganda shortly thereafter to be raised by her grandparents of the Omusu. She is the granddaughter of Mr George William Musoke and Mrs Nora Musoke of Nazzigo, Kyaggwe; and Omutaka Nelson Nkalubo Sebugwawo and Mrs Catherine Sebugwawo of Nkumba. She has three brothers and three sisters
[edit] Education
Queen Sylvia attended Lake Victoria Primary School, Gayaza Junior School, and Wanyange Girls School.[citation needed] After graduating secondary school she arrived in the United States to continue her studies. She earned an Associate's degree with honours from City University of New York, a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University, and a Master of Arts degree with Distinction in Mass Communication from the New York Institute of Technology.
[edit] Work experience
Sylvia went on to work as a Public Information Officer and Research Consultant at the United Nations headquarters in New York, as a proposal writer with Maximus Inc., and as an independent consultant in public relations and business development with various firms. She has applied her skills in fields such as public information, economic research, health care and human services, and international non-profit activities.
The Nnabagereka supports the Kabaka's Education Fund (KEF) in assisting to make education available to the least advantaged children through a scholarship scheme. She stresses the need for high quality education accessible to all children and relevant to the needs of society. The Nnabagereka places special emphasis on the education of girls, as witnessed through her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, advocating for girls' education; She is also involved with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) an organization whose goal is to accelerate female participation in education and to bridge the gender gap within the education system at all levels. The Nnabagereka is very cautious about the cultural values that make a good mother or woman in Buganda, but stresses that these should be handled in such a way that girls are not denied any opportunity in education.
As Queen, Sylvia has worked to raise awareness of the value of educating girls. She endorses abstinence from premarital sex in order to avoid HIV/AIDS and has tried to reduce the stigma of those living with the disease.[citation needed] The Queen is a patron of various organizations and heads the Nnabagereka Development Trust Foundation. Sylvia has also spearheaded immunization campaigns against measles, polio, tetanus and other diseases. She established the Kampala Ballet and Modern Dance School, the first of its kind in Uganda.[citation needed]
[edit] Personal life
After living in the United States for 18 years, Sylvia returned to Uganda. In 1998 she became romantically involved with her long-time acquaintance Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda. Their engagement was announced on Valentine's Day February 14, 1999. On 27 August of that year she married the King at St. Paul's Cathedral on Namirembe hill, becoming the first queen of Buganda in fifty years. On 4 August 2004 in London, the Queen delivered her first child, Princess Katrina Sarah Ssangalyambogo which means "buffalo's horn". She is also step-mother to the King's previous three children.
