Apollo Kironde
Encyclopedia
Apollo Kironde was the first Ambassador to the United Nations
from Uganda
.
He was the scion of an ancient aristocratic family of the Nsenene
(grasshopper clan). His grandfather was a regent
to the young Buganda
n king Chwa when the British arrived. It was at his insistence that the Buganda Agreement of 1900 made Uganda
a protectorate
and not a colony
like neighbouring Kenya
. For his efforts he was knighted by Queen Victoria
and became the first African to be knighted. When the young king came of age Sir Apollo became the Katikiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda
.
His grandson and namesake, Apollo Kironde, was the second son of his first son Asanasio. At an early age young Apollo showed a lot of promise and was sent abroad to school. He studied to be a teacher and after many years of teaching went to England and read law at Middle Temple
. He went back to Uganda and was the first African to pass the bar.
When the King of Buganda
was exiled to Great Britain
, after a dispute with the colonial government, it was Apollo Kironde who went to England to win his freedom. The people of Buganda never forgot that. Subsequently he was invited to be a minister in the colonial government, a privilege heretofore limited to the English; another first. When Uganda won its independence he was named its first Ambassador to the UN.
Apollo Kironde was truly a renaissance man
. He taught himself to be a first-class clarinet and flute player
. He was a master carpenter who made beautiful furniture and he learned to speak French. He was also a tireless promoter of the arts in his country and very proud of his heritage. His passing in 2007 was a sad loss for all Ugandans.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
He was the scion of an ancient aristocratic family of the Nsenene
Nsenene
Nsenene is the Luganda name for a long-horned grasshopper that is a central Ugandan delicacy as well as an important source of income. The insect is also eaten in neighbouring areas of Kenya and Tanzania. Traditionally in Uganda, nsenene were collected by children and women...
(grasshopper clan). His grandfather was a regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
to the young Buganda
Buganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
n king Chwa when the British arrived. It was at his insistence that the Buganda Agreement of 1900 made Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
a protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
and not a colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
like neighbouring Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. For his efforts he was knighted by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and became the first African to be knighted. When the young king came of age Sir Apollo became the Katikiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda
Buganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
.
His grandson and namesake, Apollo Kironde, was the second son of his first son Asanasio. At an early age young Apollo showed a lot of promise and was sent abroad to school. He studied to be a teacher and after many years of teaching went to England and read law at Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. He went back to Uganda and was the first African to pass the bar.
When the King of Buganda
Kabaka of Buganda
Kabaka is the title of the king of the Kingdom of Buganda. According to the traditions of the Baganda they are ruled by two kings, one spiritual and the other material....
was exiled to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, after a dispute with the colonial government, it was Apollo Kironde who went to England to win his freedom. The people of Buganda never forgot that. Subsequently he was invited to be a minister in the colonial government, a privilege heretofore limited to the English; another first. When Uganda won its independence he was named its first Ambassador to the UN.
Apollo Kironde was truly a renaissance man
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
. He taught himself to be a first-class clarinet and flute player
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
. He was a master carpenter who made beautiful furniture and he learned to speak French. He was also a tireless promoter of the arts in his country and very proud of his heritage. His passing in 2007 was a sad loss for all Ugandans.