BUGANDA KINGDOM
Summary: The Buganda Kingdom was one of the so many states around lake Vistoria and it was for the Ganda community, its was founded by Kintu.
The Buganda Kingdom was one of the so many states around lake Vistoria and it was for the Ganda community, its was founded by Kintu.Common Questions.
(a) What are the origins of Buganda Kingdom?(b) Why was Buganda able to develop expand.
(c) Describe the social, political and economic organisation of Buganda Kingdom.
(a) What are the origins of Buganda Kingdom?
♦ Origins of the Buganda kingdom are not very clear♦ Some Ganda say it was founded by Kintu, who came from Mt. Elgon with 13 -14 clans.
♦ Nyoro say, it was founded by Kato- Kimera a twin brother of Isingoma Rukidi Mpuga.
♦ Other historians say that Buganda was founded by bantu from ssese Island.
♦ There are thoughts that Buganda was originally part of the Chwezi empire and that she was among the many Kingdoms that broke away with the collapse of Chwezi empire.
♦ It is still believed that Kimera created Buganda from Bunyoro and that he came with 6 clans.
♦ Never the less, there is another school of thought that claims that they are the original Baganda and that, the chwezi and Nyoro found them already settled.
♦ Buganda started from a very minute / small nucleus that only had Busiro Mawokota and Kyadondo in around 1500.
♦ By 1800, Buganda was one of the biggest Kingdoms in the inter lacustrine region.
♦ The kingdom got established in the North-West of Lake Vctoria and the East of Bunyoro Kingdom.
(b) Why was Buganda able to rise and expand in the 18th and 19th centuries?
♦ It started as a small, compact state that was very easy to administer and control.♦ The highly centralised and efficient system of government with the king as the Kabaka.
♦ Buganda had a very strong and dependable army, that expanded the Kingdom and protected its integrity.
♦ Buganda controlled and participated in long distance trade as a chief supplier of bark cloth, this gave her much revenue/ resources.
♦ Buganda was lucky to have disorganised neighbours.
♦ Buganda had very strong leaders like Junju who expanded Buganda.
♦ Buganda had very rich and fertile soils that favoured agriculture.
♦ The conquered states provided Buganda with tributes, ivory and slaves.
♦ The fall of Bunyoro which had been a strong Kingdom left a power vacuum in the region that Buganda filled:
♦ Buganda had a clear succession policy i.e King named his successor and hence this avoided succession disputes.
♦ Hospitality of baganda initially i.e they welcomed and absorbed the foreigners into their society.
♦ Buganda had natural barriers to the South i.e Lake Victoria hence not easy to attack her.
♦ Buganda established a friendly relationship with the Arabs at the coast at quite an early stage, this availed Buganda with guns that were used to protect and expand the Kingdom.
♦ Buganda had an efficient navy/ water force that assisted the ground forces.
♦ Division of labour with in the empire i.e women produced matooke and men could defend the Kingdom.
♦ Buganda developed through raiding her neighbours.
♦ Kabak i’s marrying from different clans led to unity with the Kingdom hence reducing civil wars.
♦ Buganda had a good climate favourable for human settlement and agriculture.
(c) Describe the social, political organisation of Buganda before 1800.
Social organisation.
♦ The society was divided into classes.(a) On top were the Balangira (royal family)
(b) Bataka (land lords)
(c) Bakopi (peasants.)
(d) Bagalagala (who were slaves and war captives.
♦ The royal family was the most privileged as they had a lot of land.
♦ The clan was an important social unit in . Buganda.
♦ Each clan had its own totem (Muziro) and so, it was a taboo for one to eat his/ her totem.
♦ Much respect and royality was given to the clan heads.
♦ Elders were also accorded much respect in society.
♦ The drums were important as an entertainment object and also there were sounded to call people for any communal work.
♦ Baganda believed in small gods namely.
(a) Dungu for hunting
(b) Musoke – for rainfall
(c) Walumbe-for death. ETC.
♦ Buganda heavily and strongly believed in witch craft, in here the “Abalogo” wil doctors were usually consulted, respected and feared.
♦ However, the Baganda believed in a super-natural being i.e Katonda (God) though in a different perspective.
♦ Polygamy was widely practiced by Baganda where even the Kabaka had many wives.
♦ The children were taken over by the father’s side, .whose clan they ever took.
♦ Sexual relations among close relatives was greatly discouraged, members of 1 the same clan were not allowed to many.
♦ Baganda dressed in bark cloth, beads etc people from royal family wore skimp of animals like leopards goats but lather as the Arabs came into Buganda, they; wore cloth.
♦ Among the totems of the different clans in Buganda were the following,
(a) Li rig-fish – Mamba.
(b) Lion – Mpologoma
(c) Edible rat – Omusu
(d) Antelop – Empeewo
(e) Enjovu – elephant and others.
N.B. Its important to Observe that each of the above clans had its head known as “OmukJ w’ekika”. Currently there are 52 clans in Buganda.
Economical organisation of Buganda
♦ Buganda involved in trade e.g long distance trade supplying Barkcloth in ex change for guns, cloth etc.♦ Iron working was too important and iron implements like pangas, axes, hoes were made.
♦ Bark cloth making was indeed an important economic activity (Kukomaga)
♦ Agriculture was the most supreme economic activity, where crops like yams, cassava, matooke were grown
♦ Hunting was also carried out.
♦ Fishing was carried out especially along the shores of lake victoria, Ssese Is land etc.land was owned at first communally but the kabaka was supreme right overland, its no wonder he was called “Ssabataka” which tittle somehow is relates to land.
♦ Division of labour existed in Buganda’s economic set up i.e men hunted, carried out fishing etc where as women cultivated.
♦ Crafts industry too was import where mats, beads were developed.
♦ Taxation was an important source of revenue, taxes were collected by chiefs.
♦ Buganda raided her neighbours too for goods like salt, slaves, cattle etc. political organisation of Buganda.
Political Organisation
♦ The Kingdom was highly centralised and headed by the Kabaka (King).♦ The Kabaka had a lot of authority i.e he could appoint and dismiss his chiefs.
♦ The Kabaka was assisted by ciefs in the administration.
♦ Below the Kabaka were the following officials.
(a) Chief justice – “The Omulamuzi”
(b) Chief minister – “Katikiro”
(c) Treasurer – “The Omuwanika”
(d) parish chiefs – “Ab’ emiruka”
(e) nobles – “Abakungu”. ETC.
N.B. Ali the above officials assisted the Kabaka in different political roles within the Kingdom.
♦ Buganda had a legislative council i.e “The Lukiiko” made up of clan heads and other officials and its main work was to make laws and even to offer advice to the Kabaka and his officials.
♦ The Kingdom had a standing army to get law – breakers and to defend the Kingdom against intruders.
♦ The “Namasole” i.e Queen mother acted as an important adviser to the king.
♦’ The Kabaka could reward his officials with gifts especially when they had done good work, this ensured hard work and loyalty to the King. ETC
♦ THE Kabaka was the commander in chief of the Buganda forces (supreme millitary leader).
♦ Kingship was hereditary hence no succession disputes.
♦ Conquered provinces were administered by personalities elected by the Kabaka.
♦ Everything in Buganda belonged to the Kabaka i.e women, land etc.
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