Buganda

Buganda currently is divided into 26 districts as of 2021. These are:

The Baganda have a creation myth that says that the first man on earth (and Buganda in particular) was Kintu. Kintu married Nnambi, the daughter of the god, Ggulu. The Baganda are the descendants of Kintu and Nnambi. According to this myth, Walumbe, Nambi's jealous brother is responsible for all human disease and death on earth. Another brother, Kayiikuuzi tried to protect humans from Walumbe but failed. To this day, Kayiikuuzi is still trying to capture Walumbe from the underground where he hides and take him back home.

Before the arrival of Europeans in the region, Buganda was an expanding, "embryonic empire".[12] It built fleets of war canoes from the 1840s to take control of Lake Victoria and the surrounding regions and subjugated several weaker peoples. These subject peoples were then exploited for cheap labor.[12] The first Europeans to enter the Kingdom of Buganda were British explorers John Hanning Speke and Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton while searching for the headwaters of the Nile in 1862. They found a highly organized political system which was marred, however, by the ongoing practice of mass human sacrifice estimated at 800 persons annually.[13]

The explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley visited Buganda in 1875 and provided an estimate of Buganda troop strength. Stanley counted 3,000 troops and a fleet of war canoes. At Buganda's capital, Lubaga, Stanley found a well-ordered town surrounding the king's palace, which was situated atop a commanding hill. A tall cane fence surrounded the palace compound, which was filled with grass-roofed houses, meeting halls, and storage buildings. Thronging the grounds were foreign ambassadors. seeking audiences, chiefs going to the royal advisory council, messengers running errands, and a corps of young pages. He estimated the population of the kingdom at 2,000,000[14]^{: 152, 156, 164}

Population estimates for Kampala, the capital of Buganda, at the time of Kabaka Mutesa, in 1862, run as high as 77,000. Wrigley thinks that Kampala was probably the largest agglomeration of population in interior Africa, and that it had certain urban characteristics by the time Mutesa had ascended the throne Kampala, the capital, was the heart of the Ganda state and the center of the redistributive network that encompassed it.

— Conrad P. Kottak, Ecological Variables in the Origin and Evolution of African States: The Buganda Example

Women and Royal Power

Pre-colonial Buganda was a strongly hierarchical and patriarchal kingdom. However, of the three people who could be called 'Kabaka' or king two were women, the queen mother and the queen sister.[15] The Queen mother had political and ritual functions, possessed her own courts and had the power to collect taxes.[16] The death of the Kabaka's mother could instigate a time of terror, as the Kabaka would have his executioners catch and kill many people in his grief.[17] The senior wives of the king would also warrant special respect and had status and privilege within Ganda society. She was considered superior to all other chiefs and technically the most powerful commoner, being a royal by marriage.[18]

Colonial times

Buganda was colonized by the British[19] and made a protectorate of the United Kingdom in 1884. The move towards independence reached a climax when the Lukiiko, the parliament of Buganda, declared independence on 8 October 1960 and requested termination of the British protectorate.

While in exile, Mwanga II was received into the Anglican Church, was baptized with the name of Danieri (Daniel). He spent the rest of his life in exile. He died in 1903, aged 35 years. In 2010 his remains were repatriated and buried at Kasubi.[20]

On 24 July 1993, the monarchy of Buganda was restored, when Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, was crowned king. Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II was the son of King 'Freddy', who had been deposed by the Ugandan government in 1966.[21]

In September 2009, some members of the minority[22] Banyala ethnic group led by a recently retired UPDF Captain Isabanyala Baker Kimeze[23] who announced that Bugerere had seceded from the Kingdom of Buganda. The Banyala make up 0.09% of the population of Uganda[22] and 13% of the population of the district, Kayunga, that in their opinion they were leading into secession.[24] Because of the resulting tensions, the government of Uganda stopped the Kabaka of Buganda from traveling to Bugerere, leading to riots in the capital Kampala and neighboring districts. Thirty were killed in what came to be known as the Buganda riots.[25]

On July 31, 2022, Buganda unveiled portraits of its former Kings (bassekabaka) based on oral narrations and written histories dating back to the founding of the kingdom.[26]

As of 2009, there were at least 52 recognized clans within the kingdom, with at least another four making a claim to clan status. Within this group of clans, there are four distinct sub-groups, which reflect historical waves of immigration to Buganda.[27]

The oldest clans trace their lineage to Bakiranze Kivebulaya, who is supposed to have ruled in the region from about 400 AD until about 1300 AD. These seven clans are referred to as the Nansangwa, or the indigenous:

1. Lugave (Pangolin)
2. Mmamba (Lungfish)
3. Ngeye (Colobus monkey)
4. Njaza (Reedbuck)
5. Ennyange (Cattle egret)
6. Fumbe (Civet cat)
7. Ngonge (Otter)
8. Mpindi (Cowpea)
9. Ngabi (Bushbuck)
10. Njovu (Elephant)

The Abalasangeye dynasty came to power through the conquests of Kabaka of Buganda ssekabaka Kintu,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] which are estimated to have occurred sometime between 1200 and 1400 AD.

Thirteen clans that are believed to have come with Kintu:

1. Ekkobe (Liana fruit)
2. Mbwa (Dog)
3. Mpeewo (Oribi antelope)
4. Mpologoma (Lion)
5. Namuŋoona (Pied crow)
6. Ngo (Leopard)
7. Ŋonge (Otter)
8. Nte (cow)
9. Nkejje (Cichlids)
10. Nkima (Vervet monkey)
11. Ntalaganya (Blue duiker)
12. Nvubu (Hippopotamus)
13. Nvuma (Pearl)

The descendants of the Basimba people (also known as Bashimba) which is a Bisa and Ambo nickname of the Clan of the leopards, the bena Ngo in Zambia, who settled at Mpogo, Sironko District, are among the Ngo Clan group that come along with Kabaka Kato Kintu in his immigration.

Around 1370 AD another wave of immigration began, assisted by Kabaka Kimera,[36] who was the son of Omulangira Kalemeera. Kabaka Kimera was born in Kibulala, and returned to Buganda with Jjumba of the Nkima clan and other Buganda elders.

These eleven clans are:

1. Bugeme
2. Butiko (Mushrooms)
3. Kasimba (Genet)
4. Kayozi (Jerboa)
5. Kibe (Fox)
6. Mbogo (Buffalo)
7. Musu/Omusu (Edible rat)
8. Ngabi (Bushbuck)
9. Nkerebwe (Jungle Shrew)
10. Nsuma (snout fish)
11. Nseenene (Copiphorini)

Buganda produces a wide variety of agricultural products for local consumption and export. Matooke, beef, poultry, maize and sweet potatoes are some of the key products.

Buganda's main source of energy is hydroelectricity from the Nnalubaale Power Station in Njeru and the Kiira Hydroelectric Power Station on Lake Nnalubaale (Lake Victoria). Smaller thermal power plants operate in Buganda like the heavy fuel oil-fired Namanve Power Station in Namanve, Mukono District. Small solar power plants like the Kabulasoke Solar Power Station in Kabulasoke, Gomba District operate in Buganda.

Buganda has several tourist attractions and cultural sites including the Kasubi Tombs, and Ssese Islands.

Transport in Buganda is mainly by road, followed by water transport and rail transport under the Uganda Railways Corporation.

The main airport, Entebbe International Airport, is located at Entebbe. Smaller airstrips exist like the Kololo Airstrip (Kampala Airport) in Kololo, Mutukula Airport in Mutukula, Nakasongola Airport in Nakasongola, Namulonge Airport in Namulonge, and Kajjansi Airfield in Kajjansi.

Several actors and actresses have been very influential in Kiganda drama including Sam Bagenda of the Ebonies, Mariam Ndagire, Aloysius Matovu, Abby Mukiibi, Charles Ssenkubuge, Alex Mukulu, Kato Lubwama, Benon Kibuuka, Nana Kagga, Sarah Kisawuzi, Ashraf Ssemwogerere, Aisha Kyomuhangi, Ahmed Lubowa and Hellen Lukoma.

Kiganda cuisine is dominated by Matooke. The matooke is sometimes prepared as part of Katogo. Modern Kiganda cuisine has been greatly influenced by Indian, English and Arab cuisine. The main dishes are almost always served with stew, soup or sauce.

Historically, Barkcloth was the textile of choice mainly worn by the royals from the days of Ssekabaka Kimera and later everyone else starting with the reign of Ssekabaka Semakookiro. Barkcloth is no longer as popular as it once was and has been replaced with cotton and silk. However, some fashion designers like Jose Hendo, still use it today. Barkcloth is also worn as a symbol of protest, mourning, or both. The traditional dress is the Kanzu for men and the Gomesi for women. However, Western-style fashion is very popular these days.

Some of the more common hairstyles are Bantu knots (especially Bitutwa), cornrows, Pencil braids (Biswahili), Braids, Crotchets, Weaves and Afros.

Some accessories may include necklaces, anklets, earrings, bracelets and waist beads ( or obutiti and they are always worn under ones clothes i.e. undergarments).

Buganda has several famous writers like Michael Nsimbi, Solomon E. K. Mpalanyi and Apollo Kaggwa.

Several genres of music are popular in Buganda. Musicians produce traditional Kiganda music, Kadongo Kamu, Zouk, Dancehall and Reggae.

Some of the most famous Kiganda musicians and performers are Annet Nandujja, Elly Wamala, Fred Masagazi, Herman Basudde, Paulo Kafeero, Gerald Kiweewa and Willy Mukabya.