Journalists were barred from covering the main event, with Stanley Musazi, Kabaka Mutebi’s head of security, saying the function is private.

Sources, however, told URN that Bishop Luwalira together with other church leaders sat in the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctuary of the church, while the Kabaka with a small group of people sat in the Hannington chapel.

A URN reporter at Namirembe saw, among other notables, Kabaka’s eldest son, Prince Crispin Jjunju, Prince David Wasajja and Buganda kingdom Lukiiko speaker Nelson Kawalya. Also in attendance was former minister and legislator Joyce Mpanga, whose husband Fred Mpanga served as Buganda’s attorney general in the 1960s.

The name Richard Ssemakookiro came into the limelight in January 2012 when then Katikkiro, John Baptist Walusimbi, announced the birth of a second prince to Kabaka Mutebi. At the time of the announcement, the prince was about six months, having been born in July 2011.

Walusimbi issued what he called a special announcement on January 17, 2012 saying: “I am pleased to inform the kingdom of Buganda that Ssaabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II got a baby boy in the month of July last year.

The prince is named Ssemakookiro and his mother is of Nseenene (grasshopper) clan. Long live the Kabaka!”

Kabaka Mutebi’s official wife, Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda is of Omusu (edible rat) clan. She and the Kabaka wed at Namirembe cathedral on August 27, 1999.

Ssemakookiro is the fifth child of the Kabaka after Prince Jjunju Ssuuna Kiweewa, Princesses Joan Nassolo, Victoria Nkinzi and Sarah Katrina Sangalyambogo.

Several other Buganda royal functions have taken place at Namirembe cathedral before. It was at this same church that Mutebi’s father, Sir Edward Muteesa, wed Lady Damali Nakawombe on November 19, 1948.

Decades earlier, on September 19, 1914, Kabaka Daudi Chwa II, father of Muteesa, grandfather of Mutebi and great-grandfather of Ssemakookiro, married Lady Druscilla Namaganda at Namirembe cathedral.

In 1915, just a year after Chwa became the first Kabaka to wed in church, he was the chief guest at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the current cathedral. He would be present again at the official opening and consecration of the new cathedral on September 13, 1919.