The Buganda kingdom lies in central Uganda, at the heart of Kampala, bordered by other dorminant kingdoms like; Busoga in the east, Bunyoro-Kitara in the north, Toro in the northwest and former Ankole kingdom in the south west Uganda. It is the largest among the ancient kingdoms in Uganda with a population of 5.5 million Baganda, amounting to 17 percent of the total population in Uganda.
Quick Facts
Location: Made up of 20 districts like; Kampala, Mpigi, Wakiso, Butambala, Gomba, Mukono, Buvuma, Buikwe, Kalangala, Masaka, Kalungu, Lwengo, Mubende, Mityana, Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Rakai, Lyantonde.
Counties: Officially the Kingdom is made up of 18 counties (Amasaza ga Buganda) and these include Kyaggwe, Buddu, Kyadondo, Busiro, Butambala, Gomba, Buwekula, Bugerere
Economy: Tourism, Agriculture, Fishing, Industry
Top Attractions: Several Royal Tombs including the Kasubi Tombs, Wamala Tombs, the Buganda Parliament (Bulange), Olubiri lw’e Mengo (kabaka’s Palace), many royal Palaces, Lake Victoria and many Lakes & Rivers including Sezibwa River
Population: 8 Million (as per 2014 Census)
Buganda is believed to have been established way back in the 17 century, and both kingdoms Buganda & Bunyoro are directly or indirectly true descendants of the Bacwezi dynasty, which conquered most parts of Uganda between AD1100 and AD1500 before breaking away to give rise to the present day Buganda and Bunyoro kingdoms.
The centralised system of government headed by the hereditary Kabaka (King), supported by local chiefs, and the fertile soils which supported agriculture gave rise to Buganda kingdom. By the year 1750, Buganda was the most well organized kingdom in the region.
Between the 1884-1892, Buganda under the reign of Kabaka Mutesa and later Kabaka Mwanga, the kingdom witnessed the coming of Arabs and later Europeans into Buganda and formation of Uganda. Several treaties were signed with these groups and the most popular was the 1900 Buganda agreement which made Buganda a British protectorate.
Buganda has been a significant region in shaping the political, social and economic lifestyle of Uganda.
In 1966, the government of Uganda under President Milton Obote, abolishes all ancient kingdoms in Uganda. Kabaka Edward Mutesa of Buganda is forced into exile where dies.
In 1993, Uganda government under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni, restores ancient kingdoms. The reigning king of Buganda is Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II, and he is the 36th Kabaka (king) of Buganda. The Kabaka appoints the prime minister (katikkiro) and local chiefs to assist in administering the Kingdom.
Buganda Counties
County |
Headquarters |
Chief’s Title |
Designated Rank |
How Acquired |
|
1 | Buddu | Masaka | Ppookino | Mutuba II | Annexed by Jjunju from Bunyoro |
2 | Bugerere | Ntenjeru | Mugerere | Annexed by Semei Kakungulu from Bunyoro | |
3 | Bulemeezi | Ggaga | Kangaawo | Some of it original territory, rest annexed from Bunyoro | |
4 | Buruli | Nakasongola | Kimbugwe | From Bunyoro, 1900 Agreement | |
5 | Busiro | Ssentema | Ssebwana | Original Territory | |
6 | Busujju | Mwera | Kasujju | Original Territory | |
7 | Butambala | Kaabasanda | Katambala | Annexed by Kateregga from Bunyoro | |
8 | Buvuma | Maggyo | Mbuubi | Annexed by Mwanga II | |
9 | Buweekula | Kiryannongo | Luwekula | Annexed by Kamaanya from Bunyoro | |
10 | Ggomba | Kanoni | Kitunzi | Mutuba I | Annexed by Kateregga from Bunyoro |
11 | Kabula | Kabula | Luwama | Ceded to Buganda from Ankole | |
12 | Kkooki | Rakai | Kaamuswaga | Tributary kingdom, subsumed 1896 | |
13 | Kyaddondo | Kasangati | Kaggo | Ssabaddu | Original Territory |
14 | Kyaggwe | Mukono | Ssekiboobo | Ssabawaali | Annexed by Kimera |
15 | Mawogola | Ssembabule | Muteesa | Mostly curved out of Buddu, 1900 Agreement | |
16 | Mawokota | Butoolo | Kayima | Musaale | Original Territory |
17 | Ssese | Kalangala | Kweba | Islands of the Gods | Originally autonomous, became county in 1900 |
18 | Ssingo | Mitiyana | Mukwenda | Ssabagabo | Some of it original territory, rest from Bunyoro |
19 | Bugangazzi* | Kakumiro | Kiyimba | Given by British, 1896 | |
20 | Buyaga* | Kibaale | Kyambalango | Given by British, 1896 |
For further reading, see Buganda Tourism website www.bugandatourism.com
Also see Buganda.or.ug, the official website for the Buganda Kingdom website