KAMPALA- Uganda, the republic located on the shores of Lake Victoria in central Africa, emerged from British colonization in 1962 with a heavy cultural and political legacy. This legacy is embodied by the kingdom that attempted to replace the emerging republic on its ruins, intertwined with a solid history and identity in the minds of its citizens.
The kingdom of Buganda, located within the territories and borders of the Republic of Uganda, is governed by a crowned king. It has a population of 12 million people, a parliament, a government, and tribal advisory councils, with territories extending over approximately 61,000 square kilometers. Buganda is one of the oldest kingdoms in Africa that remains standing to this day.
The history of the kingdom dates back to the 13th century when Buganda was one of five scattered clan emirates along the northern shore of Lake Victoria, engaged in internal conflicts. Each emirate was headed by a “Mukaka,” which means clan leader.
Oyek Kazibwe spoke to Al Jazeera about the history of the kingdom (Al Jazeera)
Mysterious Beginnings
The recorded history of the kingdom’s inception is dim, leading to conflicting accounts of how these scattered emirates united to become one of the most powerful kingdoms in East Africa.
According to Ugandan professor and historian Semakula Kiwanuka, Buganda’s beginnings trace back to the moment when clans transitioned from small local systems to forming a more robust and cohesive structure with a central authority that unfolded and expanded.
This transition was not necessarily driven by economic gains; according to historical accounts, the most powerful emirate managed to subdue its neighbors, gradually forming the kingdom in the shape it has maintained to this day.
It is believed that “Kabaka Kanto Kintu” – with “Kabaka” meaning king – was the first to initiate efforts to unify the clans in the 13th century. However, it is uncertain if he was a real figure, as his name corresponds to one of the legendary characters in Buganda’s oral traditions.
To explore the official narrative of the kingdom’s history, we visited the kingdom’s government headquarters in a majestic building dating back to the 1950s in the heart of Kampala, the capital of the Republic of Uganda, to meet the kingdom’s spokesperson and Minister of Information, Oyek Kazibwe.
Kazibwe states that “Kabaka Chwa” in the early 14th century formed an alliance of five clans during his reign, expanding the geographic control of Buganda’s first kingdoms. The alliance then included the clans of Ffumbe, Lugave, Nkima, Ndiga, Njaza, and Nyonyi, with six additional clans subsequently joining.
With the aim of strengthening and involving the “people,” meaning the clans under its umbrella, “Kabaka Chwa” convened a clan assembly and established a royal council comprising clan leaders. In this assembly, the king laid the foundations of his rule, which later evolved into the kingdom’s constitution.
Pillars of the Kingdom
Minister Kazibwe took us through the executive authority “government” and the legislative authority “parliament” while explaining the pillars of governance mechanisms and their transition within the kingdom.
The first pillar is the royal dynasty, which may differ from traditional monarchies as it does not necessarily pass through direct inheritance. Instead, it can transition within the branches of the royal family, with the Kabaka selecting his heir or whoever he deems qualified to govern the kingdom. Upon naming the successor, they are sent to live in households of prominent clan figures to learn political and diplomatic etiquette, and to respect traditions and heritage.
The second pillar is the clans, according to Kazibwe, choosing the name “clan rather than tribe” does not signify the size of the intended group, but because it is a term used since ancient times. Each clan bears a “totem” from which it derives its name, such as the rat, grasshopper, squirrel, goat, deer, crow, and others, reflecting the connection of Buganda’s peoples to the surrounding environment and their appreciation for living beings since respecting nature is an integral part of their culture and way of life.
The third pillar is the subjects of the Kabaka, in other words, the common people. According to Kazibwe, they are not on the sidelines of policy-making or decision-making processes. The Kabaka selects leaders, ministers, and officials from among them, allowing the subjects to “serve their kingdom and king by playing leadership roles if selected,” as expressed by the kingdom’s spokesperson.
The Kingdom of Buganda is one of the oldest kingdoms in Africa that remains standing to this day (Al Jazeera)
Islam and Colonization
Bugandans consider the latter half of the 19th century as the advent of Islam in their kingdom, during the reign of Kabaka Mutesa I in 1876, who welcomed Arab traders arriving from the north and contributed to the spread of Islam among the population. Mutesa I often received them in his palace, and in 1877, he fasted during Ramadan after converting to Islam.
Kabaka Mutesa I is considered one of the prominent kings who ruled Buganda, a perspective supported by Professor Kiwanuka. He was succeeded by Kabaka Mwanga II, who fought against British colonization and ruled for two terms between 1884-1888 and 1889-1897 and is believed to be the same figure referred to by other Muslims in Uganda as “Kabaka Nuhu Kalma.”
“The name Buganda signifies a bundle of intertwined branches, and from this analogy, I can perhaps convey to you an idea of Buganda’s enduring legacy,” explained the historian during the colonial era.
He added, “Our people have societal resilience that enables them to adapt and influence more than succumb to influence, which allowed them to instigate changes that do not compromise their essence but aid them in adapting to political changes.”
He said, “We resemble Japan. Initially, the Emperor was not visible to the common people, but now he speaks to them and addresses them. Similarly, my people did something similar during the colonial period.”
After failed attempts to escape British colonization, Buganda succumbed to what was termed “British protection” in 1884. At that time, Britain bestowed the name “Uganda” upon the kingdom, deriving the name from the Swahili term.
Professor Kiwanuka summarized Buganda’s history with the colonizers, stating, “Kabaka Mwanga II, the Muslim king, initially fought against the British forces. However, his limited army could not withstand the might of the empire, leading to his capture and exile to Seychelles, where he passed away in his cell outside his land. Thus, Bugandan sources, as well as his admirers by naming him the martyred king.”
Independence and Cultural Identity
Buganda’s path to independence began in March 1961 with self-governance, eventually achieving independence as a sovereign state in October 1962. Not everyone at the time believed in the concept of a strong central government.
The kingdom witnessed multiple eras, as Professor Kiwanuka stated, “When Milton Obote took over the government, we experienced the most precarious moments of our existence. His forces attacked the royal palace in 1966, nearly killing the king. Obote suspended the constitutional order, abolishing all monarchies, and to this day, we have not forgiven him for his actions.”
He added, “We lived through the rule of Idi Amin Dada and witnessed the annulment of cultural institutions. However, the Buganda people remained resilient, rallying around their king,” until the current president, Yoweri Museveni, assumed power. He granted Uganda’s founding constitution with four traditional kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Buganda, a federal status within the government. Kabaka Mutesa II was chosen as the king of Buganda, ascending the throne in 1993 as the 36th king of the kingdom.
Buganda’s kingdom insisted on preserving its political and cultural identity when the current government in Uganda, which hosts Buganda’s kingdom, is observed. It becomes evident that Buganda’s kingdom is closer to an opposition role than a partnership in governance, as Bugandans take pride in their kingdom while harboring reservations about many policies of successive Ugandan governments.
These reservations often stem from questioning the adoption of English as the official language of the country and fears of an increasing number of immigrants from neighboring countries becoming citizens, out of concern for the state’s established identity and heritage that has cost them dearly in preserving since Buganda’s inception.
The oral history of the kingdom suggests that the traditional attire for men, resembling Arab robes, was taken from the attire of Arab traders who visited the kingdom and engaged in trade relations.
The headquarters of the Parliament of the Buganda Kingdom in the heart of the Ugandan capital Kampala (Shutterstock)
The Kingdom Today
Buganda’s kingdom celebrates its national day one day before Uganda’s national day, with neither Professor nor Minister offering an explanation other than the fact that the kingdom has a history older than the state.
Regarding coexistence between the kingdom and the state, the Minister stated, “When our cultural rights were restored, we were keen on preserving them within the laws of the central government. Thus, the authority granted to the kingdom is a traditional cultural authority, and we do not play direct political roles. However, in reality, we are engaged in political work through our institutions.”
The historian mentioned, “The Kabaka is the most popular figure in the kingdom and even nationally. When he leaves his palace, located one mile from the government headquarters just once, you can see tens of thousands of people lining up to welcome him. If he were to say we will fight now, we would fight.”
Observing the current political scene in Uganda, which hosts the Buganda kingdom, it is not difficult to see that Buganda’s kingdom is closer to the role of opposition than to a partnership in governance. Bugandans take pride in their kingdom and do not hide their reservations about many policies of successive Ugandan governments.
Formulating the written history of our locale.
