Brief: Buganda kingship

Kingship refers to the position or office of a king, often involving the leadership and governance of a kingdom or state.

Buganda Kingship is one of the most prominent and historically significant monarchies in Uganda. The Kingdom of Buganda is located in the central region of Uganda and was one of the most powerful and influential pre-colonial kingdoms in East Africa. The king of Buganda is known as the Kabaka, a title that signifies his role as both the political and spiritual leader of the kingdom.

The kingship of Buganda is believed to have originated with the arrival of Kintu, who came to the region from northeast and seized power from the clan heads, crowning himself the head of all clans Ssaabataka.

According to the Kiganda tradition, Kintu is the founder of Buganda and he came from the direction of Mount Elgon around 1314 AD via Bugisu, Budama, Busoga, and finally to the shores of Lake Victoria to present-day Buganda.

He is said to have come with thirteen or fourteen of the present-day clans of Buganda.

The Abalasangeye dynasty came to power through the conquests of Kabaka Kintu, which are estimated to have occurred sometime between 1200 and 1400 AD.

This is the linkage of Buganda kings.

Kintu: The first known king who established the kingdom around 1300 AD.

King Kintu, also known as Kato Kintu Kakulukuku, was the first kabaka (king) of the Kingdom of Buganda. He lived in the late 13th century and gave himself the name "Kintu" to associate himself with the mythological first person on earth in Buganda mythology. He established his capital at Nnono, Busujju County, and died at the age of thirty.

Kimera: Ruled from around 1374 to 1404.

King Kimera, also known as Kimera Walusimbi, was the third king of the Kingdom of Buganda and ruled from 1374 to 1404. He was the son of Prince Kalemeera, who was the son of Kabaka Chwa I Nabakka, and his mother was Lady Wannyana, the supposed chief wife of King Winyi I of Bunyoro. Kimera is considered the true founder of the Buganda dynasty. He was killed in a hunting accident around 1404, clubbed on the head by his grandson Kabaka Ttembo Kiridde, who succeeded him as the new king.

Ttembo: Ruled from around 1404 to 1434.

King Tembo, also known as Ttembo Kiridde, was the 4th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda. He ruled from 1404 to 1434. Tembo was the only surviving son of Prince Lumansi, who was the son of Kabaka Kimera. His mother was Nattembo. He established his capital at Ntinda Hill and married Najjemba, daughter of Semwanga, of the Ngonge clan. They had three children: two sons and one daughter. His son, Kabaka Sewannaku Kiggala Mukaabya Kasungubu, became the 5th Kabaka of Buganda and reigned between 1434 and 1464 and again between 1484 and 1494. wikipedia.org

Kiggala: Ruled from around 1434 to 1464 and again from around 1434 to 1464.

King Kiggala was a notable ruler of Buganda who reigned from 1434 to 1464 and again from 1484 to 1494. He was known for his popularity among the Baganda people, as mentioned by Rev Fr J.L. Ddiba in his book Eddiini mu Uganda. Kiggala initially abdicated the throne to his son Kiyimba but later returned to power due to the demand from the Baganda people. He was the son of Ttembo of Buganda and his mother was Namasole Najjemba. King Kiggala was a notable ruler of Buganda who reigned from 1434 to 1464 and again from 1484 to 1494. He was known for his popularity among the Baganda people, as mentioned by Rev Fr J.L. Ddiba in his book Eddiini mu Uganda. Kiggala initially abdicated the throne to his son Kiyimba but later returned to power due to the demand from the Baganda people. He was the son of Ttembo of Buganda and his mother was Namasole Najjemba. detailedpedia.com

Kiyimba: Ruled from around 1464 to 1484.

Kiyimba was the 6th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1464 to 1484. He ascended the throne around 1464 when his father, Kabaka Kiggala Mukaabya, abdicated. His reign was unpopular due to his cruelty, and he died before his father, leading to his father’s return to the throne around 1484. Kiyimba was the sixth son of Kabaka Kiggala Mukaabya and his mother was Nabukalu, of the Lugave clan, the first wife of Kabaka Kiggala Mukaabya. He had two wives, Lady Bamuggya and Lady Gwojjanjaba, but did not father any children from either wife. He died at Mpummudde and was initially buried at Lukwangu, Busiro. wikipeddia.org

Kayima: Ruled from around 1494 to 1524.

King Kayima, also known as Kayima Sendikaddiwa, was the 7th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1494 to 1524. He ascended the throne upon the death of his grandfather, Kiggala Mukaabya, and established his capital at Nazigo Hill. He was the son of Prince Wampamba and his first wife, Lady Nakayima. Kayima is known for his bravery and died in battle against Chief Bwakamba of Nyendo in 1524. He is buried at Nabulagala, Busiro.

Nakibinge: Ruled from around 1524 to 1554.

King Nakibinge of Buganda was the 8th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1524 to 1554 AD. He ascended the throne upon the death of his father, Kabaka Kayima Sendikaddiwa, who was the seventh Kabaka of Buganda. During his reign, Nakibinge launched attacks on Bulemezi, which drew the attention of the Omukama of Bunyoro. The war between Buganda and Bunyoro continued for several years, with Nakibinge seeking military aid from the Islands of Ssesse to bolster his forces. However, despite this assistance, the Banyoro eventually drove Nakibinge’s army from Bunyoro and chased them through Bulemezi, Kyaddondo, and Mawokota.

Mulondo: Ruled from around 1555 to 1564.

King Mulondo, also known as Mulondo Sekajja, was the 9th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1555 to 1564. He was the eldest surviving son of Kabaka Nakibinge Kagali and his mother was Nabakyaala Namulondo, the fourth wife of his father and the Naabagereka. Mulondo succeeded his father upon his father’s death and after the regency of his step-mother expired in 1555.

During his reign, Mulondo established his capital at Mitw’ebiri Hill and led several raids against Buddu, which was then part of the Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom. He married Nakku, daughter of Naserenga, of the Ffumbe clan, and they had three sons.

Historian Semakula Kiwanuka asserts that the reign of Mulondo might be an indication of the beginning of a new dynasty. However, some sources suggest that the circumstances surrounding Nakibinge’s death and Mulondo’s accession raise suspicion and contradict the claim that Mulondo came to the throne as an infant.

King Mulondo died in 1564 at the Kiryokyembi Palace in Mitw’ebiri and was buried at Gombe in Bulemeezi County. wikipedia.org

Jemba: Ruled from around 1564 to 1584.

King Jemba, also known as Jemba Busungwe, was the 10th Kabaka (king) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1564 to 1584. He is remembered for his kind and gentle rule. Jemba ascended to the throne upon the death of his elder half-brother, Mulondo of Buganda, and established his capital at Bubango Hill in what is now Busiro District. He was the son of Nakibinge of Buganda and his mother was Namasole Najjemba. Jemba died in 1584 at the Bagambamunyoro Palace in Bubango, Busiro County, and was buried at Gombe in Bulemeezi County, with his jaw being buried at his capital.

According to Buganda culture, a king does not die but gets lost in the forest.This tradition reflects the spiritual significance of the Kabaka in Buganda culture.

Suuna I: Ruled from around 1584 to 1614.

King Suuna I of Buganda, also known as Suuna I Kisolo, was the 11th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from approximately 1584 until his death in 1614. He is remembered for his kind and gentle rule. Suuna I ascended to the throne after the death of his elder half-brother, Kabaka Jemba, and established his capital at Jimbo Hill. He was the son of Kabaka Nakibinge of Buganda and his mother was Namasole Nassuuna. wikidata.org

*Sekamaanya: Ruled from around 1614 to 1634.

King Sekamaanya, also known as Sekamaanya Kisolo, was the twelfth Kabaka of Buganda and reigned from 1614 to 1634. He ascended to the throne upon the death of his uncle, Suuna I, in 1614. His reign is remembered as being cruel, and he established his capital at Kongojje Hill. Sekamaanya was the youngest son of Kabaka Mulondo Sekajja and his mother was Nakku of the Ffumbe clan. He married Nabakyaala Nabuuso, and their son, Kateregga Kamegere, became the fourteenth Kabaka of Buganda.

Kimbugwe: Ruled from around 1634 to 1644.

King Kimbugwe of Buganda, also known as Kimbugwe Kamegere, was the thirteenth Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1634 to 1644. He was born in Kongojje as the youngest son of Suuna I Kisolo, who was the Kabaka of Buganda from 1584 to 1614. Kimbugwe ascended to the throne after the death of his cousin, Kabaka Sekamaanya, and established his capital at Bugwaanya. He was killed around 1644 by his stepson, Prince Kateregga, who succeeded him as the Kabaka of Buganda. olulyoolulangiraonline.com.

Katererega: Ruled from around 1644 to 1674.

King Kateregga of Buganda reigned from 1644 to 1674, making him the fourteenth Kabaka of Buganda. He ascended to the throne after allegedly killing his stepfather, Kabaka Kimbugwe, by witchcraft around 1644. His father was Sekamaanya, who ruled from 1614 to 1634, and his mother was Nabakyaala Nabuuso, the Naabagareka, who was his father’s only wife. During his reign, he declared war on Kabaka Kimbugwe and usurped the throne from his cousin.

Mutebi I: Ruled from around 1674 to 1680.

King Mutebi I of Buganda reigned from 1674 to 1680. He succeeded Kateregga of Buganda and was succeeded by Juuko of Buganda. Mutebi I was born in Uganda and died in 1680 in Mbalwa, Kira Town, where he was also buried. He was the son of Kateregga of Buganda and his mother was Namasole Namutebi. Mutebi I had multiple wives, including Lady Nabitalo, Lady Nabukalu, Lady Naluyima, Lady Namawuba, and Lady Nampiima.

Juuko: Ruled from around 1680 to 1690.

King Juuko, also known as Juuko Mulwaana, was the Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1680 to 1690. He was the sixteenth Kabaka of Buganda and the second son of Kabaka Kateregga Kamegere, who ruled from 1644 to 1674. Juuko ascended to the throne after the death of his elder brother around 1680. He is remembered as a malevolent ruler and established his capital at Ngalamye. He died around 1690, and no information is available about the place or cause of his death.

Kayemba: Ruled from around 1690 to 1704.

King Kayemba, also known as Kayemba Kisiki, was the Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1690 to 1704. He was the seventeenth Kabaka of Buganda and the third son of Kabaka Kateregga Kamegere, who reigned from 1644 to 1674. His mother was Namutebi of the Mamba clan, who was the eighth of his father’s nine wives. Kayemba ascended the throne upon the death of his elder brother. He established his capital at Lunnyo, which is located near the city of Entebbe, close to where the current Uganda State House stands today. He was married to Lady Nabbanja and Lady Nakku. Kayemba died around 1704 at an advanced age.

Tebandeke: Ruled from around 1704 to 1724.

Tebandeke Mujambula, also spelled Ttebandeke Mujambula, was the 18th Kabaka (king) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1704 to 1724. He was the second son of Kabaka Mutebi I and ascended to the throne after his uncle’s death around 1704. Tebandeke’s reign was marked by turbulence due to his mental derangement and violent nature. He established his capital at Bundeke and is known for sending for oracles to help his children during a severe illness, an event that led to public shaming for Tebandeke.

Ndawula: Ruled from around 1724 to 1734.

Ndawula Nsobya was the Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1724 to 1734. He was the 19th Kabaka, or king, of Buganda and is remembered for his kindness and gentleness. Ndawula ascended to the throne upon the death of his cousin Tebandeke and established his capital at Lubaga.

Ndawula was the fifth son of Kabaka Juuko Mulwaana, who ruled from 1680 to 1690. His mother was Nandawula Kabengano of the Nsenene clan, the fifth of Juuko’s six wives.

During his reign, Ndawula fathered ten children, including eight sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Kagulu, succeeded him as the 20th Kabaka of Buganda.

Ndawula’s reign was marked by the presence of several important officials, such as Wankalubo, Ssendigya, Ssebina, Kajongo, Nalumenya, Maseruka, and Manganyi, who held various governor positions across Buganda. dbpedia.org

Kagulu: Ruled from around 1734 to 1736.

King Kagulu of Buganda reigned from 1734 to 1736 and is remembered as a particularly malevolent ruler. He was the twentieth Kabaka of Buganda and the eldest son of Kabaka Ndawula Nsobya. His mother was Naggujja of the Njovu clan, the second of his father’s seven wives. He ascended to the throne upon his father’s death and established his capital at Bulizo. He died in 1736, drowned in Lake Nalubaale.

Kikulwe: Ruled from around 1736 to 1738.

King Kikulwe Mawuba was the twenty-first Kabaka of Buganda, reigning from 1736 to 1738. He was the fourth son of Kabaka Ndawula Nsobya, the nineteenth Kabaka of Buganda, and his mother was Nakikulwe Namirembe, the third of Ndawula’s seven wives. Kikulwe ascended the throne after the death of his elder brother, Kabaka Kagulu Tebukywereke. He established his capital at Kibibi and is remembered as a malevolent ruler. He was succeeded by Mawanda of Buganda after his murder by his elder half-brother.

Mawanda: Ruled from around 1738 to 1740.

King Mawanda was the twenty-second Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, reigning from 1738 to 1740. He was the third son of Kabaka Ndawula Nsobya, the nineteenth Kabaka of Buganda, and his mother was Nakidde Luyiga of the Ngo clan. Mawanda seized the throne by killing his brother, Kabaka Kikulwe Mawuba, around 1738. During his reign, Mawanda expanded Buganda’s territory, annexing regions around Lake Wamala and extending northwards to Bwanja and Kiboga. He established his capital at Katakala, west of present-day Mityana, to serve as a base for further territorial expansion.

Ndugwa I: Ruled from around 1740 to 1741.

King Ndugwa I of Buganda reigned from around 1740 to 1741. He was succeeded by Kabaka Mwanga I Sebanakitta, who ruled from 1740 to 1741.

Namuggala: Ruled from around 1741 to 1750.

Namuggala was the Kabaka (king) of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1741 to 1750. He was the twenty-fourth Kabaka of Buganda and is remembered as a lovable and merciful ruler. Namuggala ascended to the throne upon the death of his elder brother, Kabaka Mwanga I Sebanakitta, in 1741. He was the second son of Prince Musanje Golooba and his mother was Nabulya Naluggwa of the Ndiga clan.

During his reign, Namuggala established his capital at Nansana. However, his reign was marked by a preference for personal pleasures over state affairs, leading to a conflict with his brother Prince Kyabaggu, which ultimately resulted in his abdication.

Kyabaggu: Ruled from around 1750 to 1780.

King Kyabaggu, also known as Kyabaggu Kabinuli, was the twenty-fifth Kabaka of Buganda from 1750 until his death in 1780. He ascended to the throne upon the abdication of his elder brother, Kabaka Namuggala, in 1750. Kyabaggu was the third son of Prince Musanje Golooba and his mother was Nabulya Naluggwa of the Ndiga clan. He established his capital at Lubya Hill and was known for fathering many children with multiple wives

Jjunju: Ruled from around 1780 to 1797.

Jjunju Sendegeya was the twenty-sixth Kabaka (king) of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1780 until 1797. He ascended to the throne upon the death of his father, Kabaka Kyabaggu Kabinuli, who reigned between 1750 and 1780. Jjunju established his capital at Magonga and was known for his military prowess and expansion of the kingdom’s boundaries. During his reign, Buganda conquered the region of Buddu from Bunyoro, as well as Kooki and Kabula, greatly extending the kingdom’s influence in the region of Kitara. He was renowned as a great general and was remembered for the numerous people he executed and the wars he waged. His reign was interrupted by a rebellion led by his brother, Prince Semakookiro, who rebelled against him. Jjunju was killed during an attempted capture by Semakookiro’s forces in the Battle of Kiwawu in 1797. He was buried at Luwunga, Busiro.

Semakookiro: Ruled from around 1797 to 1814.

Semakookiro, also known as Ssemakookiro, was the twenty-seventh Kabaka of Buganda, reigning from 1797 until his death in 1814. He ascended to the throne after defeating and killing his brother, Jjunju, in the Battle of Kiwawu in 1797. Semakookiro was the son of Kabaka Kyabaggu and his mother was Nanteza, the seventeenth of Kyabaggu’s twenty wives. He established his capital at Kasangati and is recorded to have married fifteen wives. olulyoolulangiraonline.com

Mutesa I: Ruled from 1856 to 1884.

King Mutesa I of Buganda, also known as Muteesa I Mukaabya Walugembe Kayiira, was the 30th Kabaka (ruler) of the Kingdom of Buganda from 1856 until his death in 1884. He ascended to the throne in 1856 after the death of his father, Kabaka Ssuuna II. Despite being an "insignificant obscure prince" compared to his brothers, Mutesa I was chosen as the new king by the chiefs who felt he would be easier to control. Under his rule, Buganda became one of the most powerful and influential kingdoms in East Africa, with a highly centralized ruling structure. Mutesa I also allowed missionaries to enter Buganda, which helped maintain peace and control over various religious groups within the kingdom.

Mwanga II: Ruled from 1884 to 1888 and again from 1889 to 1897.

Mwanga II, born Danieri Basammula-Ekkere Mwanga II Mukasa, was the 31st Kabaka (king) of Buganda, ruling from 1884 to 1888 and again from 1889 to 1897. He ascended to the throne at the age of 16 after his father, Muteesa I, died in 1884. Mwanga II established his capital on Mengo Hill and viewed Christian missionaries as a significant threat to his rule. His reign was marked by conflict and turmoil, including the execution of forty-five of his male subjects/pages in 1886, who became known as the Christian Martyrs.

Mwanga II was the last independent Kabaka of Buganda before British colonial rule. He was forced into exile in Seychelles in 1903, where he died at the age of 34 or 35. britannica.com.

Daudi Chwa II: Ruled from 1897 to 1939.

Daudi Chwa II KCMG KBE was the 34th Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, ruling from 1897 until his death in 1939. He was born on August 8, 1896, at Mengo Palace in Uganda. He was the fifth son of Kabaka Danieri Basammula-Ekkere Mwanga II Mukasa, who ruled Buganda between 1884 and 1888 and again from 1889 to 1897. His mother was Abakyala Evalini Kulabako, of the Ngabi Clan, and she was the fourth of his father’s sixteen wives. Daudi Chwa II ascended to the throne in August 1897, following the deposition of his father by British forces. At the time of his coronation, he was only one year old. He maintained his capital at Mengo Hill and was educated at King’s College Budo, which was founded in 1906 alongside him by the British Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief of the then Uganda Protectorate, George Wilson.

On August 8, 1914, Daudi Chwa II received an honorary commission as a lieutenant in the British Army and was later appointed an honorary captain. He died on November 22, 1939, at the age of 43, in the presence of his mother and relatives while visiting his mother’s official residence at Lukuli in Makindye, Kampala. iloveafrica.com.

Edward Mutesa II: Ruled from 1939 to 1966.

King Edward Mutesa II, also known as Kabaka Freddie, was the thirty-sixth Kabaka (king) of Buganda from 1939 until his death in 1969. He was also the first president of Uganda from 1963 to 1966, when he was deposed and forced into exile by Prime Minister Milton Obote. Mutesa was born on November 19, 1924, and died on November 21, 1969, in London, England. He was a prominent figure in the struggle for Buganda’s autonomy and often threatened to make the kingdom independent to preserve its traditional autonomy. He was crowned Kabaka on his 18th birthday in 1942, three years after the death of his father, Daudi Cwa II of Buganda, during British colonial rule in Uganda. newworldencyclopedia.org.

Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II: The current king, ruled since 1993.

King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II is the reigning Kabaka (King) of the Kingdom of Buganda, a traditional kingdom in modern-day Uganda. He was born on April 13, 1955, and has been the 36th Kabaka of Buganda since his coronation on July 31, 1993. As the cultural leader of the Baganda people, both in Buganda and the diaspora, Mutebi II has focused on restoring Buganda’s institutions, customs, cultural practices, and behaviors since his ascension to the throne.

What was the role of a king?

In Buganda, the king, known as the Kabaka, held absolute executive, legislative, judicial, military, and even economic power. According to Buganda culture, there are two kings: a spiritual king represented by the Royal Drums, and a material king who rules in the physical world. Upon the birth of a royal prince or princess, the Royal Drums are sounded to inform the subjects of the kingdom of the birth of a new member of the royal family. Similarly, the Royal Drums are sounded upon the death of a reigning king to officially announce the death of the material king. According to Buganda culture, a king does not die but gets lost in the forest.

The role of the material king includes performing special cultural rites on the Royal Drums before being declared king of Buganda. The material king is also involved in the traditional procedures to crown the new material king after the death of a reigning material king, alongside the spiritual king, Juma Katebe. The spiritual king, Juma Katebe, is involved in the coronation of the new material king and regularly visits the palace tomb of Kabaka Tebandeke to perform special religious ceremonies.

What is special about the buganda kings?

The kings of Buganda, known as Kabaka, are special due to the unique dual-king system in Buganda culture. According to Buganda traditions, they are ruled by two kings: one spiritual and one secular. The spiritual king is represented by the Royal Drums, known as Mujaguzo, which always exist, ensuring that Buganda will always have a king. The material, human prince must perform special cultural rites on the Royal Drums before he can be declared king of Buganda.

The spiritual king is named Juma Katebe, who holds the spiritual priesthood and is involved in the traditional procedures to crown the new material king after the death of a reigning material king. The spiritual king regularly visits the palace tomb of Kabaka Tebandeke to perform special religious ceremonies.

Upon the birth of a royal prince or princess, the Royal Drums are sounded to inform the subjects of the kingdom of the birth of a new member of the royal family. Similarly, the Royal Drums are sounded upon the death of a reigning king to officially announce the death of the material king. In Buganda culture, a king does not die but gets lost in the forest.

The firstborn prince is not allowed to become king to protect him from assassination attempts. Instead, he is given special roles in the matters of the royal family and kingdom. The name of the possible successor to the throne remains secret until the death of the reigning king.

The Kabaka has his own clan, called the royal clan "Olulyo Olulangira," and members of this clan are referred to as abalangira for males and abambejja for females. This clan is not matrilineal, despite common misconceptions.