Kingdoms in Uganda are a complex matter
EDITOR—In pre-colonial times, Uganda had social organisational establishments that were ambiguously referred to as kingdoms. Some of these pre-existing organisational structures subsequently became well recognised contact and business nexus for slave trade, land grabbing and colonisation by Arab a
EDITOR—In pre-colonial times, Uganda had social organisational establishments that were ambiguously referred to as kingdoms. Some of these pre-existing organisational structures subsequently became well recognised contact and business nexus for slave trade, land grabbing and colonisation by Arab and European powers in subsequent years.
Later on, after the perceived abolition of slave trade, and independence from the Europeans, Uganda was delivered into quasi-autonomous forms of successive governments.
The latter forms of government have had many challenges in Uganda since the early 1960s, one of which is the re-establishment of native organisational structures loosely referred to as kingdoms. For the scope of this topic, I will take eastern Uganda as an example. The Sebei of eastern Uganda, for instance, were severed from Kenya and appended to Uganda.
It is understood from legend and tales that these people had a ‘king’ loosely or commonly referred to as the “Kingoo of Sebeiâ€. If traditional and regional forms of government in Uganda were to be re-introduced, would the “Kingoo of Sebei†or associated descendants take the throne?
In Ankole in western Uganda, some people have proposed President Museveni as their modern-day king. Should the Sebei suggest the same thing for their king?
Saul Chemonges
Kapchorwa
Later on, after the perceived abolition of slave trade, and independence from the Europeans, Uganda was delivered into quasi-autonomous forms of successive governments.
The latter forms of government have had many challenges in Uganda since the early 1960s, one of which is the re-establishment of native organisational structures loosely referred to as kingdoms. For the scope of this topic, I will take eastern Uganda as an example. The Sebei of eastern Uganda, for instance, were severed from Kenya and appended to Uganda.
It is understood from legend and tales that these people had a ‘king’ loosely or commonly referred to as the “Kingoo of Sebeiâ€. If traditional and regional forms of government in Uganda were to be re-introduced, would the “Kingoo of Sebei†or associated descendants take the throne?
In Ankole in western Uganda, some people have proposed President Museveni as their modern-day king. Should the Sebei suggest the same thing for their king?
Saul Chemonges
Kapchorwa