The Rise Of Kooki County
The 18th day of November 1896 will always linger in the minds of the Baganda.
By Denis Jjuuko
The 18th day of November 1896 will always linger in the minds of the Baganda.
It is the day, Kooki ceased to be an independent state and became one of the counties of its stronger neighbour-Buganda. Until then, this small state was under the unquestionable rule of the Babiito Dynasty, who originated from the powerful Bunyoro kingdom.
Prior to the invasion of the Banyoro, this small kingdom was known as Kitalakyamenge. It was presided over by Kazingiza acting on behalf of Kiziransomyo from Kiziba in Tanzania.
Kazingiza was a coward who never put up a fight but just fled on realising that a stronger force from Bunyoro was on its way.
This Babiito Dynasty was led by Bwowe Isingoma, who was the first Mubiito ruler of Kooki. His father Isansa Gabigogo was king of Bunyoro at that time.
Bwowe came with his brother Kitayimbwa Kato. The twins had been promised some share of their father’s kingdom. Bwowe was to take over Buddu while Kato was to take care of Chope.
However, the demise of their father came with bad luck. Their elder brother, Duhaga I who had succeeded their father denied them any chance of sharing the kingdom. They were not ready to sit and stare at nothing as their fortunes ebbed away.
The twins decided to have a kingdom of their own. Their frustrations saw them taking over Kooki. Bwowe named his newly acquired state Kooki because he had got most of his spear holding warriors from a village called Kooki in Bunyoro.
After their successful story in Kooki, Bwowe sought to make amends with his big brother Duhaga I. He sent his brother Katayimbwa to Duhaga with a lot of gifts.
Duhaga welcomed the idea at first. However, some of his sycophants and croons advised him otherwise. They told him that since the two could defeat some Baganda in Buddu, who was he not to be defeated? He then ordered for the arrest of Katayimbwa. The news was not good for Bwowe who decided to go and rescue his brother. He, however, arrived too late, after Kitayimbwa had escaped. The now furious Duhaga administered his wrath on Bwowe and killed him.
Bwowe was a charismatic man who had advised his brothers in Kooki to transfer their alliance from Bunyoro to Buganda before he departed. Kitayimbwa went back and succeeded his brother. His son, Mujwiga, later succeeded him. Mujwiga never had children and he was succeeded by his brother Mugenyi. The story continued until Edward Kezekia Ndawula Kamuswaga II signed the famous agreement of friendship with Buganda in November 1896.
Ndawula was the first king of Kooki to adopt the title of Kamusaaga. In Runyoro, Kamusaaga meant the 11th child of the ruling king. The title later changed to Kamuswaga and it eventually became the title of the ruling king of Kooki.
Kooki sought alliance with Buganda because of its wealth in herds of cattle, iron deposits and ivory, which made it a habitual target of plundering expeditions by more powerful neighbours.
Kooki’s survival depended on its alliance with its powerful neighbours. Mujwiga sent a message to Jjunju, the then Buganda king asking him to help throw the Banyo-ro out of Buddu. This was welcomed by Jjunju. With Junju’s military skill, the Banyoro were sent parking out of Buddu.
From then on, Kooki was to provide an annual levy of cowrie shells and iron products to the Kabaka of Buganda. After some years, Kooki became hesitant. Buganda realised that this tiny state was busy creating a special army.
To the Baganda, a powerful Kooki could mar their access to modern weaponry from the East African coast through Tanzania. Kabaka Muteesa I therefore sent his force to invade Kooki in 1875. The force looted 4,000 head of cattle from Kooki and kidnapped many nice-looking women and children. After the invasion, Lubambula of Kooki then visited the Kabaka’s court to pay respects to Muteesa I.
The relationship between the tamed Kooki and the all-powerful Buganda improved. Kooki then assumed a greater status than a tributary state. The Kamuswaga started attending council meetings at the royal capital of Buganda. Kooki produced great figures in Buganda such as Semei Kakungulu.
The Kamuswagaship and the Kabakaship existed until 1966 when then president Milton Obote abolished traditional institutions. Now the people of Buganda can afford to smile as the current Kamuswaga, Sansa Kabumbuli II is set for coronation ceremony that will take place in January 2003. Ends
The 18th day of November 1896 will always linger in the minds of the Baganda.
It is the day, Kooki ceased to be an independent state and became one of the counties of its stronger neighbour-Buganda. Until then, this small state was under the unquestionable rule of the Babiito Dynasty, who originated from the powerful Bunyoro kingdom.
Prior to the invasion of the Banyoro, this small kingdom was known as Kitalakyamenge. It was presided over by Kazingiza acting on behalf of Kiziransomyo from Kiziba in Tanzania.
Kazingiza was a coward who never put up a fight but just fled on realising that a stronger force from Bunyoro was on its way.
This Babiito Dynasty was led by Bwowe Isingoma, who was the first Mubiito ruler of Kooki. His father Isansa Gabigogo was king of Bunyoro at that time.
Bwowe came with his brother Kitayimbwa Kato. The twins had been promised some share of their father’s kingdom. Bwowe was to take over Buddu while Kato was to take care of Chope.
However, the demise of their father came with bad luck. Their elder brother, Duhaga I who had succeeded their father denied them any chance of sharing the kingdom. They were not ready to sit and stare at nothing as their fortunes ebbed away.
The twins decided to have a kingdom of their own. Their frustrations saw them taking over Kooki. Bwowe named his newly acquired state Kooki because he had got most of his spear holding warriors from a village called Kooki in Bunyoro.
After their successful story in Kooki, Bwowe sought to make amends with his big brother Duhaga I. He sent his brother Katayimbwa to Duhaga with a lot of gifts.
Duhaga welcomed the idea at first. However, some of his sycophants and croons advised him otherwise. They told him that since the two could defeat some Baganda in Buddu, who was he not to be defeated? He then ordered for the arrest of Katayimbwa. The news was not good for Bwowe who decided to go and rescue his brother. He, however, arrived too late, after Kitayimbwa had escaped. The now furious Duhaga administered his wrath on Bwowe and killed him.
Bwowe was a charismatic man who had advised his brothers in Kooki to transfer their alliance from Bunyoro to Buganda before he departed. Kitayimbwa went back and succeeded his brother. His son, Mujwiga, later succeeded him. Mujwiga never had children and he was succeeded by his brother Mugenyi. The story continued until Edward Kezekia Ndawula Kamuswaga II signed the famous agreement of friendship with Buganda in November 1896.
Ndawula was the first king of Kooki to adopt the title of Kamusaaga. In Runyoro, Kamusaaga meant the 11th child of the ruling king. The title later changed to Kamuswaga and it eventually became the title of the ruling king of Kooki.
Kooki sought alliance with Buganda because of its wealth in herds of cattle, iron deposits and ivory, which made it a habitual target of plundering expeditions by more powerful neighbours.
Kooki’s survival depended on its alliance with its powerful neighbours. Mujwiga sent a message to Jjunju, the then Buganda king asking him to help throw the Banyo-ro out of Buddu. This was welcomed by Jjunju. With Junju’s military skill, the Banyoro were sent parking out of Buddu.
From then on, Kooki was to provide an annual levy of cowrie shells and iron products to the Kabaka of Buganda. After some years, Kooki became hesitant. Buganda realised that this tiny state was busy creating a special army.
To the Baganda, a powerful Kooki could mar their access to modern weaponry from the East African coast through Tanzania. Kabaka Muteesa I therefore sent his force to invade Kooki in 1875. The force looted 4,000 head of cattle from Kooki and kidnapped many nice-looking women and children. After the invasion, Lubambula of Kooki then visited the Kabaka’s court to pay respects to Muteesa I.
The relationship between the tamed Kooki and the all-powerful Buganda improved. Kooki then assumed a greater status than a tributary state. The Kamuswaga started attending council meetings at the royal capital of Buganda. Kooki produced great figures in Buganda such as Semei Kakungulu.
The Kamuswagaship and the Kabakaship existed until 1966 when then president Milton Obote abolished traditional institutions. Now the people of Buganda can afford to smile as the current Kamuswaga, Sansa Kabumbuli II is set for coronation ceremony that will take place in January 2003. Ends