QUEEN OF HEARTS : The Nnabagereka Charms all with visit to Boston school

By Daniel Patrick Welch

SALEM, U.S.A. ­ Four-year old Brandon Marrero awoke early and opened his eyes wide. “Is today Queen’s Day?” he asked his mom?

The preschooler at the Greenhouse School in Salem, Massachusetts (north of Boston) had been excited for weeks, and the day had finally arrived. He and his schoolmates at the small alternative school on Boston’s north shore were going to see a real, live Queen. The Nnabagereka, Her Highness the Queen of Buganda, was to visit the school.

How did little Brandon learn about Nnabagereka? And what was Her Highness doing at a humble little school thousands of miles from home? The story unfolds rather simply. Julia Nambalirwa-Lugudde, who left Uganda in 1985, runs the school along with her husband, Daniel Patrick Welch, and her mother-in-law, Patricia Jennings-Welch, the school’s founder. When Nambalirwa-Lugudde’s father, Samuel Lugudde Katwe, was appointed Omukungu to the Kabaka of Buganda, one of his first acts was to suggest that his daughter’s school be included in the Nnabagereka’s itinerary upon her visit to Boston.

The school community was abuzz with news of the Queen’s visit for weeks before the big day on August 22. The previous weekend, more than 30 parents and supporters descended on the unique facility, painting, planting, fixing, cleaning and generally trying to make the place "fit for a Queen". The larger community was also interested. Salem’s Mayor Stanley Usovicz came, presenting her Highness with the City Seal. Greenhouse School pupils from Lynn ­ a neighbouring city - presented the Queen with a citation from their mayor.

Even the region’s premier newspaper, The Boston Globe, took a keen interest, devoting a full page to advance coverage of the event. A local paper, The Daily Item of Lynn, sent a crew that spent more than three hours at the event, splashing the Nnabagereka’s picture on the front page of the following day’s edition. Many Ugandan observers, who were in abundance at the event, said it was the best coverage Uganda or Buganda had received in the American press for a
long time.

The children sang Ekitiibwa kya Buganda, O Uganda, and several American hymns. Samali Kajubi, board member of Ggwanga Mujje’s Boston Chapter, was impressed: "I was truly touched by the welcome as I emerged from my car to the sounds of Tusanyuse nnyo okulaba Nnabagereka." [a welcome song in Luganda written and taught to the kids by Nambalirwa-Lugudde.]

The children presented Nnabagereka with a handmade quilt of their own design, including a blue-and-white border reflecting the Buganda colours. Dancing and drumming were also on the agenda, as well as a tour of the school for Nnabagereka. She praised the school’s founder along with Welch and Nambalirwa-Lugudde and the staff: "You have worked hard to build a model of what school can be... I think the children who attend the Greenhouse School are very lucky indeed."
Her Highness also spoke of her work with children in Uganda. She appeared clearly at home and comfortable with the children, and addressed them first when explaining her work with Nnabagereka Development Trust, for which the school pledged to raise $1,000.

"Children your age often have to stop going to school, especially young girls.... We are making great progress, but it is often very hard for kids like you to stay in school back home."

The kids sat in rapt attention, no small feat after five hours of sitting and performing in the heat. "I like the Queen," said two-year old Kassia Young, perhaps rather neatly summing up her older schoolmates’ experience. Her Royal Highness stayed as long as she could, seemingly unwilling to leave. Certainly no one at the Greenhouse School wanted to see her go. But duty calls, of course, and the Nnabagereka was off to Dallas, Washington and then back home, leaving a permanent impression in some impressionable young minds ­ and many older ones as well!

wpdanny@netzero.com

Details on the school’s website at www.greenhouseschool