(Part Six of Nine)
Busoga Kingdom: From Presidents to Kyabazingas
Did you know that Busoga was initially administered by the colonialists through Presidents? The first President of Busoga was Sir William Grant who was Busoga’s President between 1894 and 1906. The second President was Semei Kakungulu who was Busoga’s President from 1906 – 1913.
The title of Kyabazinga was adopted much later in 1919 when Chief Ezekiel Tenywa Wako (father to late Henry Wako Muloki) became the first Kyabazinga of Busoga in 1919 and he ruled till 1949. The second Kyabazinga was Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope who reigned twice; 1949 – 1955 and 1962 – 1966. The third Kyabazinga was Henry Wako Muloki who reigned also twice; 1956 – 1962 and 1991 -2008. The current Kyabazinga HRH William Nadiope Gabula IV is the fourth Kyabazinga.
Do you know the organizational structure and heirachy in Obwa’Kyabazinga of Busoga?
In order of precedence, we have the Kyabazinga as the Supreme Head Of the Kingdom. The Kyabazinga is followed by The Chief Royals Council (This is a council of the Heridetary Chiefs of the 10 Heridetary Chiefdoms of Kigulu, Busiki, Luuka, Bunyole, Bunya, Bukono, Bukooli, Bulamogi, Butembe and Bugweri). Then follows the Busoga Lukiiko which acts as the Parliament of Busoga, then follows the Clan Heads (it is estimated to be 302 clans in Busoga) and at the bottom of the pyramid are the People of Basoga estimated to be 3.4million.
Uganda, a republic straddling the equator, has in more ancient times been ruled by both Kings and Paramount Chiefs, institutions restored by the government of President Yoweri Museveni in 1993/94 as cultural institutions after all traditional ruling structures were abolished by Milton Obote, twice dictator and twice overthrown by military coups.
The Busoga Kingdom is located in the East of Uganda, across the River Nile, which commences its long journey to the Mediterranean Sea in Jinja, known as both the Source of the Nile and the Adventure Capital of East Africa.
The Busoga Tourism Initiative has now released an initial nine short chapters on the history, culture and of course tourism attractions found in the kingdom and
with their explicit permission will all nine chapters be reproduced here in coming days.
The timing is befitting as between the 17th and 19th of February will the Uganda Tourism Board host the annual Pearl of Africa Travel Expo in Kampala and the attractions of the upper Nile valley and further into the Kingdom will be showcased there to nearly 100 hosted buyers and international travel media representatives and travel trade professionals from the entire East African region.
