Disclaimer: For those allergic to humor, please consult Wikipedia for a less entertaining version of Buganda’s history.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there existed a kingdom called Buganda, which was bigger than a buffalo’s belly and older than the tales of Muzungu explorers.
But where did Buganda come from?
Well, that’s a question that even the historians can’t seem to agree on. According to one theory, Buganda was the brainchild of Kintu, who apparently took a scenic route from the mountains of Elgon to the shores of Lake Victoria, picking up clans like souvenirs along the way. Another theory gives credit to a chap named Kato Kimera, who allegedly carved Buganda out of Bunyoro like a master sculptor.
By the 19th century, Buganda was like that big kid in the playground who eats all the lunch and still wants dessert. But how did Buganda become so big and powerful? Well, gather ’round, folks, as we embark on a journey through the twisted and tangled history of Buganda.
Legend has it that Buganda sprouted from the shores of Lake Victoria, like a stubborn weed in a well tended garden. It all started with this dude named Kintu, who is said to have swooped in from northeast Africa with his entourage of clans. Kintu was like, “Hey, I’m the boss now,” and smacked down the last indigenous ruler, Bemba Musota, faster than you can say “Katogo.” But instead of just bossing everyone around, Kintu had a bright idea: let’s all mix and mingle, like a pot of bubbling Luwombo, and create the Buganda ethnic group. So, Buganda was born, with Kintu as the OG Kabaka.
Now, Kintu was a mysterious dude. After starting Buganda, he vanished into thin air. Poof! Gone. But fear not, Buganda wasn’t left kingless. Thirty-six more kings followed Kintu. They took turns sitting on the throne, ruling the kingdom like a bossy auntie at a family reunion. Back in the day, these kings were kinda like puppets, with the clan heads pulling the strings. But by the time 1700 rolled around, these kings were all like, “We’re running this show now!”. It’s like going from sharing your toys to keeping them all locked up in your room.
Buganda wasn’t satisfied with just chilling by the lake.
As Buganda flexed its muscles, it decided to go on a little adventure called “territorial expansion.” Think of Buganda as that neighbor who keeps expanding their fence into your yard, except Buganda did it with armies instead of fence posts. For 300 years, Buganda was on a conquering spree, snatching up chiefdoms left and right until it had more provinces than you can count on your fingers and toes.
Now, here’s where things get even more interesting.
Buganda wasn’t just some random kingdom; it had a mysterious past. Some folks say it popped up after the big Chwezi Empire took a nosedive. Others believe it was just a bunch of Bantu folks chilling by the lakes. And then there are those who think it came from Bunyoro, like a rebellious teenager leaving home. It’s like Buganda’s origin story is more confusing than a chicken trying to cross the road.
Now, let’s talk about Buganda’s expansion tactics.
It was like a game of Risk, but instead of rolling dice, they rolled over anyone who stood in their way. Kabaka after Kabaka kept adding counties to Buganda like toppings on a Rolex until it became the biggest kingdom in the neighborhood. And when Buganda wanted more land, they didn’t bother with real estate agents; they just called up their pals, the British, who were more than happy to lend a hand (and some guns) in exchange for loyalty points.
Buganda’s Fishy Land Grab
Buganda started small, just a few counties like Busiro (famous for its delicious fish!), Kyadondo, and Mawokota. But these ambitious Baganda weren’t content with being small fish. They started expanding faster than a Matooke plantation in a rainy season.
By the 17th century, Buganda, under Kabaka Kateregga, was on the move, snatching counties like Ssingo and Gomba from Bunyoro. Fast forward a bit, and Kabaka Jjunju added Buddu and Kooki to the Buganda basket. By the 19th century, Kabaka Mawanda was on a real estate shopping spree, grabbing Bulemeezi, Kyaggwe, and Bugerere.
Then came the British, those cunning chaps. They saw an opportunity and armed the Baganda. Suddenly, Buganda was winning like a Ugandan Cranes team on steroids. With British muscle, they got Buyaga, Bugangaizi, and Buluri from Bunyoro – like taking candy from a baby… a very grumpy baby!
Hence endeth our history of Buganda, where kings disappeared into thin air, territories were conquered like ripe mangoes, and alliances were forged over kegs of banana wine – a kingdom that rose from humble beginnings to become a regional heavyweight.
But that’s just the first chapter. Stay tuned for the next installment, where we’ll see how Buganda grappled with colonialism, independence, and the future of the Kingdom State.
