American Bishop joins Mamba clan

 By Juliet Lukwago     

The latest addition to the Mamba clan is an American Catholic Bishop. Rt. Rev Joseph Nathaniel Perry Nsubuga was accepted into Buganda’s most populous clan by the clan head Gabunga Mubiru Zziikwa. It was such a pleasure as the Man of God was taken through the rudiments of Mamba clan, Sirya Mamba, Amazzi Nnywa… and other such trivia. Bishop Perry will hence forth not eat lungfish. It is an abomination to eat his new totem, but it was all good.  

The colourfull function was held at the residence of Dr Cyprian Kizito-Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese on Thursday to welcome a new member and grandson (muzzukulu) of the Mamba (lungfish) clan; among whom was the clan leader, Ggabuga, Mubiru Zzikwa, who hands over the confirming letter to his new grandson, Perry Nsubuga.

The others present included the Mamba clan Katikkiro, Dr Adam Nsubuga Kimala, Prince David Wasajja and his wife (omuzaana) Marion Wassajja and many other clergy.  

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Katikkiro Dr Kimala who announced the new Muzzukulu to Gabunga, welcomed Perry Nsubuga. “I am happy that the Mamba clan has got a new member from the United States of America (USA), and I thank the Archbishop, Dr Lwanga who chosen the name Nsubuga for the new member.”

Dr Kimala told him that each clan in Buganda has its cultural norms “bulombolombo” and leaders like Ggabunga who takes them to the Kabaka. In the Baganda Culture if the members hear their clan icon     “omubala” which is sounded in drums, they immediately have to gather to see what is happening in their clan.

The Mamba drum icon was sounded by one of the clan members during the function to demonstrate to the new member, Perry Nsubuga, with the words accompanying it thus: ”Sirya Mamba, Amazzi Nnywa… .” as one of the Buganda cultural.   

The Ggabunga Zzikwa thanked Archbishop Lwanga, who is also a Mamba clan member, for introducing into the clan a new member, who became a Muzzukulu in their clan. 

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“As the head of the Mamba clan (Lungfish) of Buganda, I am very happy to integrate you into our clan. I want to assure you that from today on wards you will enjoy being with us after this official inoculation into the clan.”

The Mamba clan is one of 15 original of 52 clans that form the Buganda Kingdom. The clan has the largest number of descendants in the Buganda Kingdom and Buganda at large.

The descendants of this clan are very kind and receptive to all kinds of people both inside and outside Buganda.

“As a new “Muzzukulu” of the Mamba clan, you belong to the Mmamba clan led by omutaka Gabunga Mubiru-Zziikwa. The origins of our clan are at Ssagala-Buwaya, Busiro County in Wakiso district. You belong to the sub-clan (ssinga) of Mugula headed by Omutaka Mugula of Entebbe-Busiro. You are also answerable to another clan sub-authority of Omutaka (clan elder) of Kaggwe whose origin is at Kaggwe-Kyaggwe.

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You belong to the family of Joseph Wamala Nsubuga of Kyabakadde-Kyaggwe, currently headed by your brother Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, a grandson of Omutaka Gabunga, Omutaka Mugula, Omutaka Kaggwe and Omutaka Nsubuga of Kyabakadde-Kyaggwe,” Gabuga told the members, Perry Nsubuga.

who is aged 65 years told Perry.

Nsubuga, 65, also assured his new grandson Perry Nsubuga all the support he would need and asked him to feel at home when he is in Uganda and as long as he is members of the Lungfish.  

Princes David Wassajja also welcomed Archbishop Perry into one of the Baganda clans and culture. He thanked Archbishop Lwanga for clearly distinguishing the Buganda cultural norms and religion without causing any misunderstandings.

The importance the Archbishop attaches to the Baganda clans and culture is of immense importance to the development of not only the clans, but to the development of our Buganda culture. Buganda welcomes everybody who would want to be conscripted into its cultures and norms as longer as that person respects our Kabaka as head of their culture.

He said that although he is a Mulangira (prince), he also belongs to Mmamba clan, because of his wife, who is a member of the clan.

Bishop Perry, thanked the clan leader, Gabuga, for incorporating him to his clan of a Mmamba, promising to be obedient to him and follow the clan norms (obulombolombo) and the Buganda culture as laid out.

He said that on the several occasions he has been here, he found the Baganda culture as beautiful. Earlier, I met many people including the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga,who was of the Mamba clan,  Kasana-Luweero bishop Paul Ssemwogerere before he attained the post of bishop, Monsgr Charles Kasibante,  Rev Fr Ntege of Lugazi and I also met Archbishop Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga before he became the Archbishop of Kampala and many others.

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“On each occasion I admired the way the Baganda respect their culture, the love and respect they give the Kabaka. All these inspired me to become member of one of the many clans the Baganda have. I chose be a member of the Mamba clan, because of my brother Archbishop Lwanga.

“In my home country, America, it’s too difficult to follow our family roots unlike here where the people   follow their roots easily because of the clans, which connect them to their families. I am lucky I got the name of our late father Nsubuga, the father of Archbishop Kizito-Lwanga and the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga.