Kimera of Buganda

Kimera was the third king of Buganda.

Early life

He was born in Kibulala in what is known as Bunyoro, but that area is what is today part of Ssingo County. He was the son of Prince Kalemeera who had conspired to bear a child with Wannyana of the Nseenene Clan. Legend has it that there was a civil war, in which many if not all male princes were killed, ending with Kalema, the grandfather of Kimera. On seeing that all princes were dead, the clans of Buganda had a regent chief who ruled with an iron hand. The clan-chiefs conferred and agreed to bring back royalty, the only Muganda with royal blood and male was Kalema. He had been brought up in Bunyoro royal palace since his mother was a Munyoro. Much as there were conflicts of land and wars between the Banyoro and Baganda, the two tribes clearly recognise their blood ties linked through their royal leadership and deity. (One such adoration, respect and honour of deity in Buganda is symbolised by Nnakayima Omulaalo in all Baganda traditional deity activity).

Background

Legend has it that he was fetched from Bunyoro Kingdom by a contingent of chiefs headed by a clan chief Kiyengo. Kiyengo at that time was head of Nakinsige clan. Legend has it that Kiyengo brought back Kimera via Ssesse islands, where they encamped for sometime before, Kimera entered a palace built for him at Masanafu hill not far from the present Kasubi tombs.

Kiyengo in the process of struggling to reinstate the monarchy lost his own seat as leader of the Nakinsige clan: when he was away, his brother was told by consipirators that "Ekifo kyeyune" (hurry and take the place, hence the derivation of Kyeyune) from then on Kyeyune became the head of Nakinsige clan.

Kimera it is understood became a visionary leader. He led people to become agriculturalists, cattle farmers and he was an exceptionally excellent hunter. He is said to have fed with meat all tribes around Buganda during his reign, and Buganda expanded in territory and fame. Cattle keeping was not an original thing in Buganda, legend has it that Cattle came with King Kimera.Buganda's spiritual queen Nnakayima Omulaalo has traits dating back to Bunyoro ancestral elevation and traditional deity worship. The word Omulaalo is a Luganda, or Kiganda respectable; "heardsperson." Most Baganda that keep cattle to date, either find a Muhima or Munyolo specialist to head their enterprise; this is both for profession and Buganda's tradition.

Current

Kimera is now held by some among some Baganda as a spirit that influences wealth. It is undersood that he was killed by a rival while hunting and buried at the site of death; later he was exumed and reburied at Bumera in a village called Lunnyo, near Entebbe City, on the shores of lake Nalubaale (Lake Victoria).

Every king made his own capital City where he chose; in Buganda most of the palaces and burial sites are situated in Busiro County (along Hoima Road). Kimera's Palace was at Masanafu, between the present Sentema and Hoima Roads. Masanafu has the burial ground of Kabaka Kiweewa who was also murdered after about three days on the throne.

It is not clear, but it is possible he had set up his palace in his great great grandfather Kimera's plot. Kiyengo presently heads a sub clan within Nakinsige, he is heir to chief Yusuf Ddiba Ssemmanda Kiyengo. The present Kinyengo leader of the sub-clan (Ssiga) is Nelson Malege: This portion of land appears to have been given to the original Kiyengo who came with King Kimera from Bunyoro. Yusuf Ddiba was a chief of King Chwa II. more research is underway in the issues and aspects of Kabaka Kimera of Buganda By: Dr. Al-Haj Ibrahim Nelson Kaggwa Kiyengo Ssemuyaba. Dr. Ibrahim Kaggwa is resident in UK a British Citizen, and is a philanthropist, a specialist in International Development, Dr Kaggwa has had many achievements among which are: his contribution in: 1 Initiating the work to build Buziga Parish Centre of the Anglican Church of Uganda; work entailed securing the land, developing the project from a shell to; a Church, School, and Health Centre. 2. Work in Uk including the re-developing of St. Stephen's Church and building a unique Church cum-hostel centre in Walthamstow, London. 3. Later he worked as the first senior officer for the Development of Black Community Forum, initiating the Securing of land and feasibility study, working with the Government fund distributor English Partnerships, to build Forum House in Sheffield UK. He went on to start a widely acclaimed agency for Culture and Change Management (ACCM) campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). He has been Chairperson for The British Commonwealth Uganda Ex-services leaugue, Chairperson of UK-Uganda Group for Human Rights, and travels widely on invitation to give talks on development: He read Ecclesiology; the development of Religious and disused Buildings for Community use. 4. His philanthropic work includes that: He has made several contributions and initiatives; building the local Mosque in Lwadda,near Matugga and contributing to the Mosque in Tula Uganda. He was elected Chairperson of Bungreave Community Action Forum (BCAF. BCAF is credited with pioneering of Burngreave New Deal who managed a £52M. Neighbourhood Fund to regenerate that area of Sheffield)He was born in a Royalist family, who support their Buganda Monarchy, yet he is a nationalist for Uganda. He was born of five brothers: Kazibwe, Kiwanuka, Malege,. Tamukede, Ssempewo, with three sisters; Nnamuyaba, Kitta-obwami, and Nnambwere: Born in Uganda and springs from the lineage of Ddiba Kiyengo, his father was Kesi SSemuyaba Kaggwa (Keith)and his mother was Tereza Nnanyanzi a daughter of Mariam Nnakawunde who was one King (Kabaka) Chwa II 's concubines. Theresa has been referred to as a lost princess, due to the alleged infidelity of her mother Nnakawunde, with the king's then cheffeur; one Anthony Ddumba. Ddumba would have been subjected to capitol punishment, but he ran off and sought asylum with the Kings' grand father Prince Musanje in Kisimbiri Wakisso, where Tereza was born and was therefore never officially presented to King Chwa II. However, the princesses that knew of King Chwa's relationship are adamant on the matter; the child was royalty. Prince Musanje gave a large portion of Land to Ddumba, to bring up that Child. When Tereza Died, she was refused burrial in that land as the Mbogo clan of Ddumba were certain she was not one of them..but royalty; she was then buried in Buziga Hill.

There has been much debate about King Kimera, but there are strong affinities and interpretations about the events that happen in Buganda which allude to the strangeness and greatness of Kimera, for instance: He was first buried at Nnono, (Meaning Origin) every muganda has a Nnono - origin. He was buried in Lunnyo - Entebbe, where the Ugandan State house became established; following that the protectorate authority found the significance of Kimera and the clan meaning of Entebbe-(SEAT). The name Kimera means; that which germinates or springs up. Every Muganda King is given the name Kimera on the day of enthronement. Presently, King Ronald Muwenda Kimera Mutebi reigns. It has been said he has met and is well acquainted with Dr. I N "Kiyengo" Kaggwa, referred to above; is it not strange! Considering the historical facts put above!.