Kingdoms in Uganda

BUGANDA KINGDOM

Buganda, the largest of the medieval kingdoms in present-day Uganda, became an important and powerful state during the 19th century. Established in the late 13th century along the shore of Lake Victoria, it evolved around its founding kabaka (king) Kintu, who came to the region from northeast Africa. Kintu, who arrived as the leader of multiple clans, conquered the area, defeating the last indigenous ruler, Bemba Musota, to establish his new state.  Kintu, however, ordered the new clans to intermarry with the indigenous people creating the Buganda ethnic group.
Thirty six kabakas or kings followed Kintu, who mysteriously disappeared after laying Buganda’s foundation.  While in the early centuries the kings ruled at the mercy of the clan heads, by 1700 they gained more centralized authority over the kingdom.
During the 16th century, Buganda began 300 years of territorial expansion, annexing or conquering a number of chiefdoms and expanding from three provinces to twelve by 1890.  Buganda’s expansion came as a result of its military superiority over its neighbors.  

Buganda is one of the numerous kingdoms that sprung up after the collapse of the vast chwezi empire, hence its believed that it also originated from the large chwezi empire.
The kingdom got established in the north west part of lake Victoria and east of Bunyoro, in between lake Kyoga and lake Albert.
The earliest inhabitants of this place are believed to have been the Bantu that migrated from the Congo basin, who live in the present day Busiro, Kyadondo and Mawokota.
The origin of this great kingdom are not clear to historians however a number of theories  have been pit up.

According to the oral tradition in Buganda the first Uganda ruler was Kaita-Kintu who is widely beloved to have come from side of mountain Elgon, He passed through Bugishu, Budama and Busoga finally to Buganda where he seized power from the clan headland crowned himself the head of all clans Ssaabataka.
He is said to have come with thirteen or fourteen of the present day clans of Buganda.
According to the tradition in Bunyoro,the founder of Buganda was Kato-Kimera who came from Bunyoro.
He was believed to have been a twin brother to Rukidi Mpuga the founder of the bito dynasty in  Bunyoro.

Its belived that Kato Kimera curved buganda from Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom which was on the verge of collapse. He is beleived to have come with five to six present day clans of Buganda.
Others believe that Buganda originated from the Bantu clans that lived in the areas way back and others came from eastern Uganda .
Other clans of Buganda are said to have come from ssese islands on Lake Victoria.
Buganda was as a small nucleus state comprising of only Busiro, Mawokota and Kyadondo by the 15th century. The Baganda who inhabit these areas belong to wider group of interlacustrine Bantu and form the largest Bantu grouping in Uganda.

By the 17th century Buganda had expanded to cover Singo, Gomba, Butambala and it was Kabaka Katerega who captured these counties from Bunyoro.
Under kabaka Jjunju,Buganda expanded to include Buddu and Kooki which were annexed from Bunyoro.

By the 19th century, Kabaka Mawanda captured the counties of Bulemeezi, Kyaggwe and Bugerere. Making Buganda the largest kingdom in the interlacustrine region by then.
With the help of the British, Kabaka Muteesa brought in the lost counties of Buyaga, Bugangaizi and Buluri which were annexed from Bunyoro.

The kingdom of Buganda is located on the shores of Lake Victoria with in the interlacustrine region. The mainly two traditional theories that explain its origin i.e. the Kiganda and Bunyoro tradition theory.
According to the Kiganda theory, the founder of Buganda was Kintu who was believed to have come from the direction of mountain Elgon 1314 AD via Bugisu, Budama, Busoga and finally to the shores of Lake Victoria to present day Buganda. Around thirteen to fourteen of the present day clans are said to have come with Kintu.
Another theory says that Buganda was founded by Kato Kimera, a twin brother of Isingoma Rukidi Mpuuga who founded the Bito dynasty. About five to six clans are said to have come from Bunyoro.
Buganda is one of the states that broke away after the collapse of Bunyoro Kitara Empire under the Bachwezi.
Buganda started to expand to include former parts of Bunyoro and Ssese Islands.
The expansion began around 17th century during the reign of Kateregga who expanded the boundary of Buganda to Ssingo, Kyagwe, Gomba and Butambala.

Around the 18th century Buganda waged wars of expansion against the Banyoro in which she captured Buddu which had large iron mineral deposits and several iron smelting sites. Between 1814-1831, Sekamanya annexed Bwera, Buwekula, and Kooki to Buganda.
In the 19th century, the areas of Bugerere, Bulemezi were annexed to Buganda from Bunyoro when the British gave guns to Buganda who defeated all neighbors.
In the 1900 Buganda agreement, the British gave Buyaga and Bugangaizi to Buganda as a reward for their collaboration with the British in crushing Bunyoro Kingdom’s military ambitions against the colonial Britons.

TORO KINGDOM

The first kings of this region were of the Batembuzi dynasty. Batembuzi means harbingers or pioneers. The batembuzi and their reign are not well documented, and are surrounded by a lot of myth and oral legend. There is very little concurrence among scholars regarding the Batembuzi time period in history, even the names and successive order of individual kings. It is believed that their reign dates back to the height of Africa’s Bronze Age. The number of individual batembuzi reigns, as given by different scholars, ranges from nine to twenty one.

The Bachwezi Dynasty

The Bachwezi are credited with the founding of the ancient empire of Kitara; which included areas of the Nile Valley, present day central, western, and southern Uganda; northern Tanzania, western Kenya, and eastern Congo. Very little is documented about them. Their entire reign was shrouded in mystery, so much so that they were accorded the status of demi gods and worshiped by various clans. Many traditional gods in Tooro, Bunyoro and Buganda have typical kicweezi (adjective) names like Ndahura, Mulindwa, Wamara, Kagoro, etc.

In addition to founding the empire of Kitara, the bacweezi are further credited with the introduction of the unique, long-horned cattle, coffee growing, iron smelting, and the first semblance of organized and centralized government, under the king.

No one knows what exactly happened to the Bachwezi. About their disappearance, there is no shortage of colorful legend. One legend claims that they migrated westward and disappeared into Lake Mwitanzige (Albert). Another legend has them disappearing into lake Wamala, which bears the name of the last king of the dynasty. There is a popular belief among scholars that they simply got assimilated into the indigenous populace, and are, today, the tribal groups like the Bahima of Ankole and the Batutsi of Rwanda. The Bahima and Batutsi have the elegant, tall build and light complexion of the Bachwezi, and are traditionally herders of the long-horned Ankole cattle.

The Babiito Dynasty

The Bacweezi dynasty was followed by the babiito dynasty. Toro kingdom was, and still is, under the babiito dynasty. Any attempt to pinpoint the dates of this or any other dynasty before it is pure conjecture, as there were no written records at the time. Modern day historians place the beginning of the babiito dynasty at around the time of the invasion of Bunyoro by the Luo from the North. The first mubiito (singular) king was Isingoma Mpuuga Rukidi I, whose reign is placed around the 14th century. Todate, there have been a total of 33 babiito kings, including 7 princes who, for one reason or another, were not referred to as omukama (king).

The kingdom of Tooro, of the babiito dynasty, aptly claims its rightful origins in the ancient empire of Kitara. The first son of Omukama Kyebambe III of Bunyoro rebelled and annexed the southern part of his father’s kingdom, forming his own kingdom. He placed the northern border of his new kingdom at  River Muziizi. The kingdom of Tooro was born, under the reign of Rukirabasaija Omukama Kaboyo Kasunsunkwanzi Olimi I.

Following the death of Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I, there followed several other kings and princes on the Tooro throne. Some of them reigned for very short periods of time, during which they were still referred to as “Omubiito” (prince), not by the right title of “Rukirabasaija Omukama“. When we include such princes, the number of batooro kings comes to 8. The present Omukama is Rukirabasaija Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. A brief write up on each Omukama follows. It should be noted here that the numerical denotation of kings of Tooro takes off from the list of Bunyoro kings, before Tooro broke away. This is why, for instance, while there have been a total of two kings with the name Olimi on the Tooro throne, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi was Olimi VII.

Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I

Prince Kaboyo was the first son of Omukama Kyebambe III of Kitara. He rebelled and annexed the southern part of his father’s kingdom which he declared an independent kingdom of Toro. He had visited Tooro several times, to collect taxes for his father and check on the royal herds. He was taken by Tooro’s beauty and the friendly way he was received by the batooro. He befriended a number of influential men in Tooro, who later played a key role in the success of his annexation scheme.

Kaboyo’s sisters, princesses Mpanja and Batebe, who then lived in Tooro, caught wind of their brother’s plan to rebel. They reported this to their father, Omukama Kyebambe, who went into denial and refused to believe that his beloved son would do such a thing. The rebel prince asked for and obtained his father’s permission to return to Tooro, under the pretext that the wife he had left in Tooro was expecting twins, and that he needed to return and be by her side. This is when he finalized his breaking away plan and never returned to Bunyoro. When his father died, the people of Bunyoro sent for Kaboyo to return and succeed his father’s throne. He refused saying he had his own people to look after in Tooro.

Omubiito (Prince) Kazaana Ruhaga

Prince Kazaana Ruhaga succeeded his father, Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I; but his reign was very short lived. He was overthrown by his brother, Omubiito Nyaika Kasunga, who became Omukama.

Omukama (King) Nyaika Kasunga

He claimed the Toro throne after overthrowing his brother, Omubiito Kazaana Ruhaga. His reign was ended when his brother, Omubiito Kato Rukidi, with the help of an army given to him by the Kabaka (King) of Buganda, managed to overthrow him. He fled to nearby Mboga, in Congo, while his brother Kato Rukidi took over the throne.

Omubiito (Prince) Kato Rukidi

He overthrew his brother, Omukama Nyaika Kasunga and claimed the throne for himself. When Nyaika Kasunga, then exiled in Mboga, heard that the mercenaries who had helped his brother, Kato Rukidi, to overthrow him had returned to Buganda, he returned and retook his throne; becoming Omukama for the second time.

Omukama (King) Nyaika Kasunga’s Second Reign

Having retaken the throne from his rebel brother, Omubiito Kato Rukidi, Omukama Nyaika Kasunga made the mistake of offending Omukama Cwa Kabalega of Bunyoro. Nyaika Kasunga sent his men to Mwenge with orders to capture for him some of Kabalega’s royal cows.

Omukama Kabalega was angered by this action, and he sent his men with orders to capture Nyaika Kasunga and bring him to his court in Bunyoro. The expedition to capture Nyaika included 40 ruthless, nubian marcenaries. Omukama Nyaika Kasunga was able to defeat the invading force. He died two years later, and was succeeded by his son, Omubiito Olimi Mukabirere.

Omubiito (Prince) Mukabirere Olimi II

He succeeded his father, Nyaika Kasunga. Shortly after his accession to the throne, Omukama Kabalega of Kitara sent an army to defeat Olimi II and bring an end to the secessionist kingdom of Tooro altogether.

Kabalega’s army arrived in Tooro in the middle of internal strife. A rebel prince, Mukarusa, had annexed the beautiful area of Busongora, in the southern end of Tooro kingdom, and declared himself king over it. Omukama Olimi II, already weak from trying to fight Omubiito Mukarusa, was easily captured, with several other members of the Tooro royal family, and forcibly taken away to Bunyoro.

Realizing Kabalega’s determination to totally put an end to Tooro kingdom, the leaders of the babiito clan, in Tooro, decided to send Olimi’s son and heir, Prince Kasagama and his younger brother to Ankole, saving them from the wrath of Kabalega.

Omubiito (Prince) Mukarusa

Omubiito Mukarusa, who had annexed part of his brother Mukabirere’s kingdom did not escape the mighty Kabalega, who was determined to finish off all rebel princes. His capture shortly followed that of his brother, and he, too, was taken to Bunyoro. He was, therefore, the last of the rebel princes. Kabalega had, finally, succeeded in regaining the breakaway kingdom of Tooro and bringing the land back to Kitara where it belonged. He proceeded to subdivide Tooro into the old administrative areas that existed during the days of his grandfather, Omukama Kyebambe III.

Omubiito (Prince) Nyamuyonjo Kakende

In chronicling efforts by various parties to rid Toro of Kabalega’s harrassment, we cannot forget the valiant effort of prince Nyamuyonjo Kakende, grandson of Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I. With the help of an army given to him by the Kabaka of Buganda, Omubiito Kakende was able to drive Kabalega’s army out of Tooro, and declare himself Omukama. Kabalega was not prepared to tolerate another rebel prince in Tooro. He sent an expedition against Prince Kakende. The prince was forced to flee to Buganda, where he later died of small pox.

The Final Defeat of Kabalega

Kabalega’s constant harassment of Tooro ended on August 14, 1891, when he was defeated by Captain Lugard, an agent of the then Imperial British East African Company. Lugard brought with him several nubian mercenaries to help him accomplish his task. The descendants of these nubians form Tooro’s nubian community, that is present to this day. Captain Lugard was, therefore, instrumental in returning Tooro kingdom to its rightful heir, Omubiito (Prince) Kasagama; who became Omukama Daudi Kyebambe Kasagama, M.B.E., Tooro’s first modern day Omukama.

Omukama Daudi Kyebambe Kasagama, M.B.E.

Omukama Kasagama is credited with making the final break from the clutches of Kabalega of Kitara, and with leading Tooro into the modern colonial era. He had regained his father’s kingdom with the help of Europeans, whom he welcomed as friends. He cooperated with the white colonial rulers and was open minded enough to even try some of their ways, like schooling and Christianity.

Omukama Kyebambe Kasagama was respected and honored by both local and colonial governments. Queen Victoria honored him with a special medal emblazoned with his name. This was in appreciation for Kasagama’s refusal to join forces with nubian soldiers who had started rising against the colonial government.

In the year 1900, Omukama Kyebambe Kasagama signed an agreement with Sir. H. Johnston, making Tooro part of the British Protectorate. It was in a true spirit of patriotism, therefore, that during the First World War, he sent a Batallion of young batooro soldiers to fight on the allies side. For this patriotic sacrifice, Omukama Daudi Kyebambe Kasagama was awarded the order of M.B.E. by  H.M. King George VI of England.

Omukama Kyebambe Kasagama is still remembered for embracing peace within his kingdom and with Tooro’s neighbors. He allowed all religious faiths to flourish, and he became a Christian in the year 1896. He encouraged his chiefs to send their children to school, to discover the white man’s secrets, and set an example by sending his own two sons, princes Hosea Nyabongo and George Rukidi to school. Prince Nyabongo went on to excell academically and become one of the world’s best educated individuals.

Omukama George Kamurasi Rukidi III

Prince George Kamurasi succeeded his father, Daudi Kyebambe Kasagama, as Omukama of Tooro on January 29, 1929. His people praised him as “Ruraihya n’emundu, emanzi ya Kyebambe” (He who sleeps among guns, the brave one of Kyebambe) because of his distinguished service in the King’s African Rifles (K.A.R.), during the Second World War; where he earned the rank of lieutenant. He was later knitted by Queen Elizabeth II, and became popularly known as Sir George by his many friends at home and abroad.

Omukama Rukidi III supported education and encouraged all batooro to send their children to school. During his reign, his government gave scholarships to all batooro attending higher secondary school. One of his own children, Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya, went on to become the third african woman to ever graduate from the prestigious Cambridge University. She earned a law degree and was admitted to the English bar.

Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi VII

Omukama Rukidi III passed away in 1965 and was succeeded by his son, Prince Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi VII.   Omukama Olimi VII had two very short reigns. His first reign was terminated in 1967, when then Prime Minister Apollo Milton Obote abrogated the constitution and made Uganda a republic with himself as president. When the N.R.M. government of President Yoweeri Museveni reinstated the institution of king in 1993, Patrick Kaboyo became Omukama of Tooro for the second time, but his second reign was very short. He suddenly passed away in 1995, and was succeeded by his three and a half years old son, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV

The accession of King Oyo to his father’s throne marked the beginning of an exciting period for the people of Tooro. At the infant age of three and a half years old, King Oyo of Tooro earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest reigning monarch.

BUNYORO KITARA KINGDOM

Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom is the remnant of the once mighty Kitara empire.  Kitara Empire existed in the East and central Africa great lakes region from the early bronze age to about 500 C.E. During its growth under the Chwezi Kings, the Empire of Kitara, translated us the “Empire of the sun”, “Empire of the moon” or Empire of the light” ruled much of the Nile valley after the collapse of the Axumite empire.

The empire encompassed of modern day Uganda, Eastern Kenya, eastern D.R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Kitara was ruled by two dynasties, the Batembuzi gods and their successors the Bachwezi, followed by the Biito who assumed the remnant of Kitara; todate called Bunyoro-Kitara Empire, and also took up ruler-ship of other breakaway kingdoms.

The new kingdoms that broke away from Kitara include present day Tooro, Ankole, Buganda, Busoga in Uganda, the Kingdom of Rwanda, Burundi, and Karagwe in northern Tanzania, Mboga, among other Kingdoms in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The people of Bunyoro are known as Nyoro or Banyoro (singular: Munyoro); the language spoken is Nyoro (also known as Runyoro).

The Kingdom has had three (3) successive Dynasties as its rulers, with these listed as the Batembuzi dynasty, Bachwezi dynasty, and Babiito Dynasty, which is currently the ruling dynasty.

1. The Batembuzi Dynasty

The first kings were of the Batembuzi dynasty. Batembuzi means harbingers or pioneers. The Batembuzi and their reign are not well documented but passed down by oral legend through generations. It is believed that their reign dates back to the height of Africa’s bronze age. The number of individual Batembuzi reigns, as given by different scholars, ranges from nine to twenty-one, but very little can be traced about the names and successive order of individual kings.

2. The Bachwezi Dynasty

The Bachwezi are credited with the founding of the ancient empire of Kitara; which included areas of present-day central, western, and southern Uganda; northern Tanzania, western Kenya, and eastern Congo. Just like the Batembuzi, very little is documented about them, save for oral legend passed down through generations.  The entire Bachwezi reign was shrouded in mystery, so much so that they were accorded the status of demi-gods and worshipped by various clans. Many traditional gods in Bunyoro, Tooro, and Buganda have typical kichwezi (adjective) names like Ndahura, Mulindwa, Wamara and Kagoro.

The Bachwezi dynasty was very short-lived, as there are only 3 chwezi known kings, who were Ndahura, Mulindwa, and Wamara; in this respective order. However, even with their short-lived reign, they are credited for founding the empire of Kitara, and also for the introduction of the unique, long-horned Ankole cattle, coffee growing, iron smelting, and the first semblance of organized and centralized government, under the king.

Perturbed by the many social and economic unfortunate occurrences, including loss of his favorite cow Bihogo, the last Chwezi king, Wamara decided to seek divination, and through his diviners, it was revealed to him that Chwezi reign was coming to an end, and that there would be a dark people to come from the north to take over their throne. The diviners would subsequently go-ahead to reveal that the Luo upper north would invade the kingdom.

After the collapse of their dynasty due to social and economic reasons, local oral legend has it that the Bachwezi abjudicated the throne, and with the highly organized social formation, and disappeared together in the thick of the night and migrated southwestward to adopt a low-key life, got assimilated into the indigenous populace, and are, today, the tribal groups of the Bahima of Ankole and the Batutsi of Rwanda, with some distinctive features still evident among these tribes of Bahima & Batutsi such as can be seen in the elegant, tall build and light complexion associated with the Bachwezi as well as the traditional herding of the long-horned Ankole cattle, a breed which present day anthropologists have traced the origins in present day Egypt.

Prior, a Chwezi Prince Kyomya in one of his hunting escapades, around the upper Nile area, had an encounter with a Luo girl; Nyatworo; a daughter to a Luo chief in the area, and from this, she conceived; According to Luo customs at the time, it was an abomination for an unmarried girl to engage in sexual activity before marriage, and it was punishable by the ultimate penalty; death.

However, in this particular case, due to fear of reproach by the Chwezi to the Luo people for the murder of a prince’s lover, it was not the ultimate penalty inflicted, but rather a cast-out of the lady Nyatworo into the wilderness in the upper areas of the River Nile where prince Kyomya had met her where she settled under a tree known as Bito tree; due to this phenomena, the children of Nyatwo would come to be referred to as Luo-Bito Children. In his subsequent hunting visit, prince Kyomya continued the affair with Nyatworo, in total, fathering 4 boys; namely, Nyarwa, Isingoma Rukidi Mpuga & Kato Kimera (twins), and Kiiza in that respective order of age. These grew up and stayed with their mother in the upper areas of the River Nile.

At the time of the invasion of the Luo on Kitara after the Chwezi had abdicated, the sons of Nyatworo were fronted to take over the throne of the chwezi, given their royal lineage connection, and among them, Isingoma Rukidi Mpuga was chosen, becoming the first Biito king as Isingoma Mpuga Rukidi I. Little documentation on the exact time of his reign can be traced, but his reign is placed around the 14th century. To date, there have been a total of 27 Babiito kings who still reign over Bunyoro-Kitara.

His twin brother Kato Kimera, would later move southward to establish present day Buganda, his brother Kiiza east ward to establish present day Busoga Kingdom, while their eldest brother Nyarwa remind neutral as a mediator between the 3 brothers who were developing rifts, forming a special of Bito royal class of Abapa’Nyarwa who do not rule, but are entrusted with enthronement of any new king within these 3 kingdoms, to date.

The invasion by the Luo / Nilotic Bito from the north in led to the splintering of the Empire of Kitara into different chiefdoms and kingdoms, However, Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom led by the Babito dynasty emerged as the largest and strongest of these, controlling the entire region between Lake Victoria, Lake Edward, and Lake Albert. With kingship handed down through a hereditary system. The Omukama (King) held executive, judicial and legislative powers, and was even venerated as a demi-god. He ruled through the Omuhikirwa (Prime Minister), provincial chiefs and a council of notables., these structure remained until the invasion of colonialists.

To date, these structures still remain, but with the king mostly as a cultural leader. The King however still commands great respect, and cultural powers in the kingdom.

At the height of its power, Bunyoro Kitara was the most extensive, prestigious and famous of Uganda’s kingdoms. It encompassed rich lands in the Albertine rift and the great lakes region that gave it a strong hand in barter trade with neighbours and traders from afar. Located in a wildlife rich region that today encompasses Murchison Falls Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Kibale Forest Park and Rwenzori Mountains Park, the traditional economy of Bunyoro revolved around salt mining & trade, iron smelting, agriculture, & big game hunting of elephants, crocodiles, lions and leopards for ivory, hides and skins. Commanding the largest markets in the region that many from as far as the East Cost, and the north (Sudan & Egypt would come to trade. Salt, which was the most valuable; comparable to gold as of today, was mined from Lake Albert and the various crater lakes using ancient techniques that can still be observed in the areas of Kibiro around Lake Mwitanzige (also called Lake Albert, and in the kingdom’s former territories of Lake Katwe.\

Mparo Royal Tombs of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom; Photo by Eric Burger

Bunyoro remained the most powerful kingdom in East Africa until colonial advances in the 19^th century that saw Buganda being declared a British Protectorate and rewarded with Bunyoro territory and wealth. The large province of Tooro was soon seceded with much of the lucrative salt works, to form Tooro kingdom.

However,Omukama Chwa II Kabalega, the 23rd king of the Biito Dynasty is Bunyoro-Kitara’s most memorable and popular king to-date due to his efforts to wade off colonial advances on his Kingdom, a war he sustained for 9 years until his eventual capture and exile to Seychelles islands in 1889, succeeded by his young son Omukama Yosia Kitehimbwa as a choice by the colonialists, whom they would shortly after de-throne in favour of his elder brother Omukama Duhaga Bisereko for his interest and corporation with the Missionaries.

Some Bunyoro historians state that the first President of the Independent Republic of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was a descendant of Omukama Kabalega and claim that the Kingdom elders even invited him to the royal palace to begin his royal duties but he turned down the offer in favour of leading the Kenyan people to independence. Duhaga was succeeded by his brother Omukama Sir Tito Winyi, who is the father of the current king and cultural leader of the Banyoro-Kitara, Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, the 27^th king of the Babiito dynasty, having ascended the throne on June 11^th, 1994.

After Kabalega’s fall, Bunyoro-Kitara was brought to heel under colonial rule and subjected to very repressive colonial policies due to their former resistance. Following independence from Britain in 1962, Bunyoro-Kitara was one of 4 constituent kingdoms together with Buganda, Toro and Busoga that were recognised by the constitution in Uganda. Shortly after, the 1967 constitutional amendment would then abolish all kingdoms, leading many monarchs to exile. However, the new Uganda constitution of 1995 formally re-instated the traditional Kingdoms and their Kings, and are now protected as regional cultural entities.

The current king and cultural leader of the Banyoro, Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I is the 27^th king of the Babito dynasty, ascended the throne on June 11^th, 1994.

BUSOGA KINGDOM

Busoga Kingdom is located in Eastern Uganda and is bordered by Lake Kyoga to the north, Victoria Nile to the west and the Mplogoma river to the east and Lake Victoria to the south. It is also home to the Source of the world’s longest river; River Nile. Early British explorers thought that Busoga was an Island and were amazed by the abundance of food and agricultural diversity in Busoga. A typical Busoga Homestead includes an agricultural garden where food is grown for domestic consumption. Traditionally, the women of the household cultivate the home gardens while the men cultivate cash crops like coffee, cotton and maize.

WAY OF LIFE IN THE UGANDAN KINGDOMS

Uganda has sixty-four different ethnic groupings with diverse cultural groups of people who speak different languages although swahili is a historical lingua-franca in East Africa.

Culture is like a person, it is born, it grows and it dies. In Uganda, the cultures of different people were mounded by both the natural environments and social environments of the given area in which a culture emerged, It is the culture which identifies and distinguishes one tribe from another. The notable cultural groupings in Uganda include the Bantu communities, The Atekerin, The Sudanic, Eastern/Western Nilotics as well as Asian and Horn of Africa communities.

CENTRAL REGION (BUGANDA KINGDOM)

This region of Uganda is predominantly inhabited by the Baganda tribe which is part of the Bantu. The Baganda people are agriculturalists who grow crops such as Bananas, Sweet potatoes, Cassava, Yams, Beans and a variety of green vegetables. They also keep chicken and rear animals like cattle, sheep and goats. In general, the Baganda are hardworking people who have fully utilized the geographical location of their kingdom to improve their livelihoods through trade links across the Lake Victoria which also led to the increased prosperity of their Kingdom as a whole.

According to Buganda tradition, all land belongs to the King (Kabaka), and he can distribute it to anyone he wishes although some changes were made to the land ownership system after the Kabaka signing a number of Agreements with the British during the period in which present day Uganda was directly under British colonial rule.

Traditional Wear for Baganda men comprises of a long sleeved tunic that is locally known as “Kanzu” while the traditional ladies’ wear is a colourful garment known as “Gomesi”

Marriage and Family Life in Buganda

The Baganda regard marriage as a very important aspect of life and a woman is not accorded the respect she deserves unless she is legally married while a man is regarded as “incomplete” unless he has a wife. According to Ancient Buganda tradition, a man could marry more than Five wives if he had the means to provide for a large family. Buganda tradition as well as flexible “Bride-price” made it easy for Polygamous marriages to occur which led to an influx of people from other regions to come to Buganda in search of a second wife.

Ancient Baganda parents would initiate and conduct arranged marriages for their children; for instance, a girl’s father would choose a suitable husband for his daughter and the daughter would not question his decision even if she preferred someone else. After an introduction ceremony is held and the Bride-price has been paid a formal ceremony would then be organised where the bride would officially be handed over to the groom by the her family. Tradition stipulated that the girl’s aunt would dress her up smartly and then the boy would then be invited to admire her, if the boy liked what he saw, then the ceremony would proceed. The girl would be escorted by her aunt to her new home only if she were a virgin. The virgin girl would be escorted to her new home where a goat would be handed to the aunt in appreciation, the girl’s aunt would then find her way through the rear door of the house with the goat in hand. According to Buganda tradition, this goat is to be slaughtered and eaten without adding salt to the meat.

WESTERN REGION (ANKOLE, TORO & BUNYORO KINGDOMS)

This region of Uganda is predominantly inhabited by Bantu people from the kingdoms of Ankole, Toro, Bunyoro as well as other communities like the Bakiga, Basongora, Banyaruguru, Batwa, Bafumbira and Bakonjo. The cultures of these tribes have a lot in common and the local people of these communities are mainly pastoralists who rear cattle and agriculturalists who cultivate crops such as sorghum, millet, peas, beans and irish potatoes although some communities like the Banyankore or “Ankole” are mainly cattle-keepers. Although the cultures and languages of these tribes are closely linked, the Bakiga and Ankole bear the most similarity in terms of language, culture and heritage. Some clans among the tribes from western Uganda have cultural similarities with communities from the Horn of Africa.