When Charles Peter Mayiga was just three years old, he witnessed a theft happen in the palace that he lived in. The thieves ransacked the palace and stole cars and other valuables. Amongst the valuables and cars stolen was a Rolls-Royce Phantom, four belonging to the King. This year the vehicle stolen in 1966 from the Kingdom of Buganda is set to be returned to its owners.
Who Gave the Order?
Back in 1966, Milton Obote was the Executive Prime Minister of the Independent country. Furthermore, the famous strongman Idi Amin was the commander of the army. During the year, strongman Idi Amin received orders from Milton Obote to attack the palace. Following his orders, Idi Amin dispatched a unit to raid the palace. The team sent attacked the palace humiliating the King, which created bitter feelings for Buganda’s people.
Five Rolls-Royce Vehicles Stolen
Five Rolls-Royce vehicles were stolen on the tragic day of the attack on the palace. However, one vehicle, a Rolls-Royce 1936 Phantom three, was destroyed and buried on the palace grounds. Charles Peter Mayiga, the current Katikkiro or prime minister of the Kingdom of Buganda, reported that the car’s remains would be put in a museum.
A Silver Wraith Rolls-Royce delivered in 1959 was also stolen from the palace. Prime minister Charles Mayiga confirmed that they didn’t know where the car went after it got stolen. There was a Silver Cloud delivered in 1962 they have never seen again or traced.
One car stolen was in South Africa. The vehicle, though, is not a Rolls-Royce. The car located belonged to the current King of Buganda’s mother, and it was a 1962 Bentley Drophead Coupe. Prime Minister Charles stated that they engaged their high commission in South Africa when they found the car. He wrote to the Ugandan chief commissioner of East Africa and engaged South Africa and Interpol authorities. He stated he did all this because there is a need to know the circumstances under which the car ended up in South Africa.
The government of Uganda had held on to the returned Rolls-Royce for decades. Uganda’s government had refused to return the car, saying the car belongs to the state. Some Buganda citizens believe that Uganda returned the car because they realized its importance to the Bugandan people.
Return of the Kings Car
Of the three vehicles that either got stolen or destroyed, two belonged to Buganda’s kingdom, and once belonged to the Kabaka and his personal capacity. The car that was set to be returned was delivered in December 1964. The car was bought for the Kabaka as he was the King and acted as the head of state. Therefore, from a strictly legal standpoint, the Buganda government had a claim to it.
Prime Minister Mayiga stated that he viewed the returning of the vehicle as a good gesture. He added that the attacking of the palace and ransacking and taking of movable properties was humiliating. The act humiliated the King and the Kingdom and Buganda’s people and the people who believe in the rule of law. So returning the vehicle was a good gesture to the kingdom and Buganda’s people.
Mr. Mayiga stated that they welcomed the gesture and thanked the president and his cabinet for that decision.
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