Insight: Why Kabaka Won't Conduct a Flag-Off Ceremony for His 2024 Birthday Run

Unexpectedly, the Kabaka's 2024 birthday celebration will not be kicked off by Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the king of Buganda, but rather by Nnaalinya Lubuga, the princess royal, Dr. Agnes Nabaloga. The 2024 birthday run will take place at Mengo Palace this Sunday, tomorrow.

The Kabaka, who traveled for Europe on March 21 to meet with his medical handlers, was unable to return in time for the birthday run, therefore Nnaalinya was assigned to flag the run on his place, according to Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, who confirmed the incident. 

“The Kabaka has designated Nnaalinya Lubuga to flag off Kabaka’s subjects in his absence,” he said.
“Kabaka is expected to return home as soon as his medical handlers are through with their exercises. I talked to Kabaka and he was pleased to know that many people, including President Museveni, the Speaker of Parliament, religious leaders and opposition leaders are taking part in the campaign,” he added.

According to the Katikkiro, Kabaka Mutebi expressed hope that the kingdom's goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS would be accomplished if all Ugandans followed the medical professionals' instructions. 

https://twitter.com/cpmayiga/status/1776669745665745000

The annual Kabaka Birthday Run, now in its eleventh year, is anticipated to light up Mengo Street in Kampala on Sunday, April 7, 2024, with hundreds of thousands of participants.

The 5, 10, and 21-kilometer races are scheduled to start at 6am in the morning. 
The ongoing battle against HIV/Aids is reflected in this year's theme, "Ending HIV/AIDs by 2030." Previous campaigns raised awareness of sickle cell disease and fistulas.