Thursday, November 19, 1942, was an important day in the history of the Baganda.
Even though World War II was raging, it was a day characterised by pomp because it was both the birthday and coronation of Kabaka Edward Muteesa II.
Officially named Edward Muteesa II, he was popularly known simply as King Freddie. He ascended the throne at the age of 15
When his father, Ssekabaka Sir Daudi Chwa II, died on November 22, 1939, Muteesa II was proclaimed the next ruler of Buganda.
He was to reign under a Council of Regency until he came of age and assumed full powers.
As the celebrations unfolded in Budo, there was a beautiful Kenyan girl who was at the time studying nursing and midwifery at the nearby Mengo Hospital.
Zibiah Wangari Ngatho was born in Thogoto, in the central region of Kenya, in September 1920. She had reported to Mengo earlier in the year.
She was four years older than Kabaka Muteesa II. It is, however, not clear if Ngatho attended Muteesa’s coronation.
As fate would have it, Ngatho, in 1950, at the age of 30 became the 10th wife of Kabaka Muteesa II, who was 26 years.
She was given the title, Her Highness Lady Zibiah Ngatho of Buganda.
Ngatho was raised by her parents, Reverend Ishmael Ngatho and Alexandra Njeri, who were lifelong friends of Jomo Kenyatta.
She gave birth to Princess Stella Alexandria Sserwamutanda Ndagire in Nairobi in 1951. Ngatho died in 2019 at the age of 99.
Meanhwile her daughter from Muteesa II, Princess Ndagire later became a nurse and settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where she lives.
