The deceased served as Buganda Prime Minister before the abolition Kingdoms in 1966. He also oversaw enthronement of the current Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II at Naggalabi - Buddo in 1993.
"The late Mayanja Nkangi has been an ardent advisor to Kabaka Mutebi and rendered invaluable counsel to me in this office of Katikkiro," Mayiga said. He cited a number of occasions where the late Nkangi received immense challenges during his tenure as Buganda Kingdom Katikkiro.
Mayiga was one of the high-ranking Buganda Kingdom officials that visited the late Nkangi at Nakasero Hospital during his last days on earth.
Mayanja Nkangi became Katikkiro of Buganda in 1964 until the 1966 crisis when the Obote I government attacked Mengo palace and exiled Kabaka Edward Mutesa. Nkangi also fled to exile in England meeting Kabaka Mutesa there.
When Mutesa died in exile in November 1969, Nkangi together with the then Crown Prince, now Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, performed the succession rituals which are expected of a crown prince within the norms of Buganda Kingdom.
Nkangi later returned in 1971 upon the fall of the Obote regime and participated in the return of Mutesa's remains in March of that year. He again finalised the rituals that were supposed to be performed by the Crown Prince Mutebi.
According to Katikkiro Mayiga, a number of these rituals were performed at Bamunanika Palace, in Luweero district. Mayiga also recounted that Nkangi kept in his custody Buganda's ceremonial mace --the Ddamula -- a symbol of authority of the office of Katikkiro from 1966 until 1993 when kingdoms were restored.
Meanwhile, Buganda Kingdom has set up a special committee to take charge of Mayanja Nkangi's burial arrangements. The committee is headed by the 1st Deputy Katikkiro Emmanuel Ssendawula.
Other members of the committee include Apollo Makubuya, Christine Mugerwa Kasule, William Matovu, Walusimbi Ssengendo, Noah Kiyimba and William Naganga, the Permanent Secretary in Katikkiro's office.
Earlier, the family issued a burial programme indicating that the late Jehoash Mayanja-Nkangi will lie in State at Buganda Kingdom administrative headquarters in Bulange - Mengo on Wednesday March 8, before a vigil at his home in Ntinda, Nakawa division.
There will also be a funeral service on Thursday March 9, at St. Luke's Church, Ntinda from where the body will be taken to Parliament for a special session. The deceased will be buried on Friday at his ancestral home in Kanyogoga, Kalungu West in Kalungu district.