All kings in Uganda are blood relations
Dec 15, 2004
ALL the princes in Bunyoro, Nkore, Buganda, Busoga, Toro and Kooki today belong to one ancestor. This is a case that should be studied in a broad sense in order to assist us understand our history which should be used to unite rather than create misunderstanding and disunity.
Kajabago Karusoke
ALL the princes in Bunyoro, Nkore, Buganda, Busoga, Toro and Kooki today belong to one ancestor. This is a case that should be studied in a broad sense in order to assist us understand our history which should be used to unite rather than create misunderstanding and disunity.
The oldest kingdoms in Uganda are Bunyoro-Kitara and Ankore. What is interesting is that claims by both Bunyoro-Kitara and Nkore concerning the genesis of their respective kingdoms are the same and similar. Both claim that the first people from whom kingship originated in their respective areas are called Abatembuzi.
Bunyoro says these came from outside and were the first people to settle in Bunyoro-Kirata territory. They had their king called “Kintu.†Kintu produced three sons, namely, Kairu, Kahuma and Kakama. Kintu is said to have just disappeared when he grew old but had bequeathed his kingdom to his last born, Kakama, who became the second king of Bunyoro-Kitara. The first king in Bunyoro was Kintu while the first one of Nkore claimed to be “Ruhanga.†Ruhanga also produced Kairu, Kahima (in Bunyoro, the name is Kahuma) and Kakama. The children of Kintu and Ruhanga have the same names and are the same number — three.
As Ruhanga grew old, he also bequeathed his kingdom to his last born, Kakama, who became the second king of Ankore.
Ruhanga also disappeared.
Here now develop historical differences:
Ankore does not claim that there were no people on their territory until the Abatembuzi arrived.
Kakama of Bunyoro was succeeded by Twale his, son and Twale becomes the third king of Bunyoro.
Kakama of Nkore bequeathed his kingdom to Nyamata who becomes the third king of Nkore.
Twale was succeeded by Hangi
Nyamata was succeeded by Ruyonga. so we have two phratries parting in a parallel manner.
Finally, a descendant of Kintu of Bunyoro-Kitara, Waraga Isaza Nyakikooto Rugaambanabato who had become king after his father Ngoonzaaki Rutahinduka, married a daughter of Omugabe of Ankore, called Nyamata, daughter of Omugabe Ruyonga. Isaza and Nyamata produced a boy called Isiimbwa. Isiibwa married a daughter of the Katikiro (prime minister) of Bunyoro-Kitara, called Bukuku who had a daughter called Nyinamwiru. Isiimbwa and Nyinamwiru produced a son called Ndahura. When Omugabe Ruyonga, the father-in-law of Omukama Isaza, died, he was succeeded by the son of his daughter Isiimbwa who at the same time was a son of Omukama Isaza of Bunyoro.
Isiibwa became the Omugabe of Ankore although a son of Omukama of Bunyoro. Isiimbwa finally handed over Nkore to his son Ndahura whom he had produced from the daughter of the Katikiro of Bunyoro. But by the time Isiimbwa Ndahura, succeeded Isimbwa he was already Omukama of Bunyoro after he had killed his grandfather Bukuku who had become a regent of Bunyoro when Isaza was staying with Ruyonga, the reigning Omugabe having left the kingdom with the Katikiro. Ndahura therefore became Omugabe of Ankore and continued as Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara. The two kingdoms were united under one monarch.
Ndahura married a lady called Nyaante of the Bamooli clan, and produced a son called Wamara. As Ndahura grew old, he bequeathed his kingdom to Wamara who became king of both Bunyoro and Ankore again.
Before Isimbwa produced Ndahura he had produced a son called Kyomya from his own sister called Nyabiryo who was daughter of Omugabe Ruyonga. Kyomya then married a girl called Nyatworo daughter of Labongo in Acholi. They settled in an area with trees called Biito. Kyomya produced four sons with Nyatworo. The sons were Nyarwa, Isingoma and Kato who were twins followed by Kiiza.
Isiimbwa was the first king in present Uganda to introduce decentralisation in his administration. For example, he divided up his kingdom according to counties as follows:
His own headquarters Kitara
was given to Nyamenge.
Muhwahwa (Buganda) to
Ntege ya Kooya
Kaarokarungi (Nyabushozi)
to macumulinda .
Busoga to Nteembe.
Bugangaizi to Kabara
Mwenge to Nyakirembeka.
Busongora (present Kasese)
to his own paternal aunt
Kogere.
Buruli to his sister,
Nyangoma.
Bugahya to Nyamurwana
Bugoma to Nsiinga
Bugungu to Kwamango
Cope to Kaparo.
Bulega to Kaleega.
Bwiru (Buddu) to Mukwiri
Busindi to Nyakadogi.
Buhweju to Muramira.
When all these appointed chiefs were commissioned and finally, arrived in their respective areas of administration, the local people there referred to them as chiefs of Omukama Isaza. Today there are called Abamasaza while each county is called isaza and in plural they are called amasaza.
The Bacwezi had a very old habit of going back from where they had come (disappear). In the local language called kwegoromora. But before they did that they would hold meetings either at Mubende or Kisozi in order to bequeath kingship to children of their own choice. So at one time when the elders were leaving, Bunyoro-Kitara was divided up as follows:
Bunyoro was taken by Isingoma Mpuuga.
Muhwahwa was taken by Kaganda and became Buganda because of “Kagandaâ€.
Busoga was taken by Kiiza.
Ankore went to Ruhinda, son of Wamara. He was called Ruhinda because he was born with a mark on his forehead which in our local language is called akahinda.†In conclusion, those born under the “Bbiito†trees are called “Ababiito†while the one with “Akahiinda†produces “Abahiinda,†but they are all descendants of Isaza father of Isiimbwa . This relationship should help us to understand our background and be able to unite us.
The writer is a senior lecturer at the National Leadership
Institute, Kyankwanzi
ALL the princes in Bunyoro, Nkore, Buganda, Busoga, Toro and Kooki today belong to one ancestor. This is a case that should be studied in a broad sense in order to assist us understand our history which should be used to unite rather than create misunderstanding and disunity.
The oldest kingdoms in Uganda are Bunyoro-Kitara and Ankore. What is interesting is that claims by both Bunyoro-Kitara and Nkore concerning the genesis of their respective kingdoms are the same and similar. Both claim that the first people from whom kingship originated in their respective areas are called Abatembuzi.
Bunyoro says these came from outside and were the first people to settle in Bunyoro-Kirata territory. They had their king called “Kintu.†Kintu produced three sons, namely, Kairu, Kahuma and Kakama. Kintu is said to have just disappeared when he grew old but had bequeathed his kingdom to his last born, Kakama, who became the second king of Bunyoro-Kitara. The first king in Bunyoro was Kintu while the first one of Nkore claimed to be “Ruhanga.†Ruhanga also produced Kairu, Kahima (in Bunyoro, the name is Kahuma) and Kakama. The children of Kintu and Ruhanga have the same names and are the same number — three.
As Ruhanga grew old, he also bequeathed his kingdom to his last born, Kakama, who became the second king of Ankore.
Ruhanga also disappeared.
Here now develop historical differences:
Finally, a descendant of Kintu of Bunyoro-Kitara, Waraga Isaza Nyakikooto Rugaambanabato who had become king after his father Ngoonzaaki Rutahinduka, married a daughter of Omugabe of Ankore, called Nyamata, daughter of Omugabe Ruyonga. Isaza and Nyamata produced a boy called Isiimbwa. Isiibwa married a daughter of the Katikiro (prime minister) of Bunyoro-Kitara, called Bukuku who had a daughter called Nyinamwiru. Isiimbwa and Nyinamwiru produced a son called Ndahura. When Omugabe Ruyonga, the father-in-law of Omukama Isaza, died, he was succeeded by the son of his daughter Isiimbwa who at the same time was a son of Omukama Isaza of Bunyoro.
Isiibwa became the Omugabe of Ankore although a son of Omukama of Bunyoro. Isiimbwa finally handed over Nkore to his son Ndahura whom he had produced from the daughter of the Katikiro of Bunyoro. But by the time Isiimbwa Ndahura, succeeded Isimbwa he was already Omukama of Bunyoro after he had killed his grandfather Bukuku who had become a regent of Bunyoro when Isaza was staying with Ruyonga, the reigning Omugabe having left the kingdom with the Katikiro. Ndahura therefore became Omugabe of Ankore and continued as Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara. The two kingdoms were united under one monarch.
Ndahura married a lady called Nyaante of the Bamooli clan, and produced a son called Wamara. As Ndahura grew old, he bequeathed his kingdom to Wamara who became king of both Bunyoro and Ankore again.
Before Isimbwa produced Ndahura he had produced a son called Kyomya from his own sister called Nyabiryo who was daughter of Omugabe Ruyonga. Kyomya then married a girl called Nyatworo daughter of Labongo in Acholi. They settled in an area with trees called Biito. Kyomya produced four sons with Nyatworo. The sons were Nyarwa, Isingoma and Kato who were twins followed by Kiiza.
Isiimbwa was the first king in present Uganda to introduce decentralisation in his administration. For example, he divided up his kingdom according to counties as follows:
was given to Nyamenge.
Ntege ya Kooya
to macumulinda .
to his own paternal aunt
Kogere.
Nyangoma.
When all these appointed chiefs were commissioned and finally, arrived in their respective areas of administration, the local people there referred to them as chiefs of Omukama Isaza. Today there are called Abamasaza while each county is called isaza and in plural they are called amasaza.
The Bacwezi had a very old habit of going back from where they had come (disappear). In the local language called kwegoromora. But before they did that they would hold meetings either at Mubende or Kisozi in order to bequeath kingship to children of their own choice. So at one time when the elders were leaving, Bunyoro-Kitara was divided up as follows:
Bunyoro was taken by Isingoma Mpuuga.
Muhwahwa was taken by Kaganda and became Buganda because of “Kagandaâ€.
Busoga was taken by Kiiza.
Ankore went to Ruhinda, son of Wamara. He was called Ruhinda because he was born with a mark on his forehead which in our local language is called akahinda.†In conclusion, those born under the “Bbiito†trees are called “Ababiito†while the one with “Akahiinda†produces “Abahiinda,†but they are all descendants of Isaza father of Isiimbwa . This relationship should help us to understand our background and be able to unite us.
The writer is a senior lecturer at the National Leadership
Institute, Kyankwanzi