Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi Gifted Rolls Royce Phantom IV On Birthday

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Uganda news July 18, 2022

Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II received a remodeled Rolls Royce Phantom IV yesterday as a birthday present.

The kabaka’s father, Edward Muteesa II previously used this car after the then government bought it for him in 1964 at the same time he filled in as president.

However, the vehicle was confiscated in 1966 by Milton Obote’s forces and the Kingdom’s other properties in the 1966 Lubiri raid.

For many years, the car wasted away at the State House in Kampala. However, in 2013, they moved it to the museum. Apparently, it is alleged that there were four cars of this very make but where they currently are is a mystery.

At Bulange-Mengo yesterday, the Kabaka marked his 67th birthday and the Katikkiro, Mr Charles Peter Mayiga made a few comments.

He said the government returned the vehicle in September 2020. This is to show the strong partnership between the state and the kingdom.

“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,” Mr Mayiga said.

He further said that after handing over the vehicle to Prince Kintu Wasajja, the kingdom had a seven-member committee to head the process of restoring the car.

“The budget for the whole restoration was Shs500m and the first fundraising lunch of 48 Buganda officials made Shs300m. The committee paid the balance of Shs200m,” Mr Mayiga said.

However, though, they had to definitely import the spare parts of the 48-year-old vehicle.

The latest model of Rolls-Royce Phantom 2020 costs between $705,900 (about Shs2.5b) for the basic trim level Sedan Phantom (base). And for the top-of-the-range Sedan Phantom EWB, it would cost $1.1m(about Shs4b).

Several activities have characterized the Kabaka’s birthday celebrations. Some include the birthday run held on July 3, among others.

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