A NATION BURDENED BY THE GHOSTS OF ITS PAST

Buganda: A Kingdom Within

Founded in the late 14th century, Buganda is one of several Bantu-speaking principalities within Uganda. Within five centuries, Buganda became the largest and most powerful kingdom in the region. Its insistence on maintaining its autonomy has been a source of political unrest throughout the years of Uganda's independence. Under the rule of Milton Obote, Buganda and the other three traditional kingdoms within Uganda were abolished in 1967. The kingdom of Buganda was not restored until 1993 (g15).

 

The kingdom's name originates from a story about an interaction between Omulubaale, a Fetich doctor who was keeping the throne for Kintu, the man who united the clans in Uganda and organized them under his rule. The story goes that Omulubaale gave Kintu a stick and asked that he break it into pieces, which he did easily. After the stick had been broken, Omulubaale gathered nine sticks and made a bundle, which he gave to Kintu and asked that he break it. When Kintu failed to break the bundle (Obuganda), Omulubaale had demonstrated the strength of the unity of the bundle versus the stick. He advised Kintu to rule in Buganda instead of in sticks, thus the origin of the name is one of strength and unity (g33).

 

Buganda is ruled by a king, the Kabaka, Ssabasajja Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II (g38). The people speak Luganda and are collectively referred to as "Baganda," or singular, "Muganda" (g10).