Kabaka of Buganda

Kabaka is the title of the king of Buganda. According to the traditions of the Baganda they are ruled by two kings, one spiritual and the other material.

The spiritual, or supernatural, king is represented by the Royal Drums. These are regalia called "Mujaguzo" and, as they always exist, the Buganda at any time will always have a king. "Mujaguzo", like any other king, has his own palace, officials, servants and palace guards. The material, human, prince has to perform special cultural rites on the Royal Drums before he can be declared king of the Kingdom of Buganda. Upon the birth of a royal prince or princess, the Royal Drums are sounded by drummers specially selected from a specified clan as a means of informing the subjects of the kingdom of the birth of new member of the royal family. The same Royal Drums are sounded upon the death of a reigning king to officially announce the death of the material king. According to Buganda culture, a king does not die but gets lost in the forest. Inside the royal tomb, for example the Kasubi Tombs and the Wamala Tombs, one is shown the entrance of the forest. It is taboo to look beyond the entrance.

Election of kings

Buganda has no concept equivalent to the Crown Prince. All the princes are equally treated prior to the coronation of a new king following the death of a reigning king. However, during the period of a reigning king, a special council has the mandate to study the behaviour and characteristics of the young princes. The reigning king, informed by the recommendation of the special council, selects one prince to be his successor. In a secret ceremony, the selected prince is given a special piece of bark cloth by the head of the special verification council. The name of the 'king-to-be' is kept secret by the special council until the death of the reigning king. When all the princes and princesses are called to view the body of the late king lying in state, the selected prince lays the special piece of bark cloth over the body of the late king, revealing himself as the successor to the throne.

By tradition, Baganda children take on the clan of their biological fathers. However, princes and princesses take on the clan of their biological mothers. This is to ensure that each of the 52 clans of Baganda gets a chance of producing a future king of Buganda, since a reigning king can marry from any of the 52 clans except that of his biological mother.

The first born prince, by tradition called "Kiweewa", is not allowed to become king. This was carefully planned to protect him against any attempted assassinations in a bid to fight for the crown. Instead he is given special roles to play in the matters of the royal family and kingdom. Thus, the name of the possible successor to the throne remains secret.

Kings of Buganda

*Kintu Kato, late fourteenth century
*Chwa I, early fifteenth century
*Kimera, c.1420-c.1447
*Ttembo, c.1447-c.1474
*Kiggala, c.1474-c.1501
*Kiyimba, c.1501-c.1501
*Kayima, c.1528-c.1528
*Nakibinge, c.1555-c.1582
*Mulondo, c.1582-late 16th century with...
*Jjemba, late 16th century and...
*Ssuuna I, late sixteenth century-c.1609
*Ssekamanya, c.1609-early seventeenth century
*Kimbugwe, early seventeenth century
*Kateregga, c.1636-c.1663
*Mutebi I, Jjuuko, and Kayemba c.1663-c.1690
*Tebandeke and Ndawula, c.1690-c.1717
*Kagulu, Kikulwe and Mawanda. c.1717-c.1744
*Mwanga, Namugala, and Kyabaggu, c.1744-c.1771
*Jjunju and Ssemakokiro, c.1771-1797
*Ssemakokiro "(alone)", c.1797-1814
*Kamaya, 1814-1836
*Ssuuna II, 1836-1856
*Mutesa I, 1856-1884
*Mwanga II, 1884-1888
*Kiweewa, 1888 - pretender to the throne during exile times of Mwanga II
*Kalema. 1888-1889 - pretender to the throne during exile times of Mwanga II
*Mwanga II "(2nd time)" 1889-1897 - on return from exile after the murder of Kiweewa Mutebi and Kalema by loyalists
*Daudi Cwa II, 1897-1939
*Mutesa II, 1939-1969
*Period of Interregnum 1969-1993
*Muwenda Mutebi II, 1993-present.

External links

* [http://www.myuganda.co.ug/categories/about/people_culture/mornachies/buganda/index.htm Brief description of Buganda at www.myuganda.co.ug] dead link|date=January 2008|url=http://www.myuganda.co.ug/categories/about/people_culture/mornachies/buganda/index.htm
* [http://www.buganda.com/ Buganda.com]
* [http://www.ugandatravelguide.com/wamala-tombs.html Tombs for Kabaka Ssuna]