The Old Buganda

In the past, Buganda had developed into a fairly stable nation, having evolved from a 'bare land' (Muwawa) to become a united entity with cohesive administrative divisions. One of the factors that favoured stability in this land was the division of power between the Monarchy and the clan leaders. At the summit was the Kabaka (King) with absolute power, assisted by his chiefs in territorial administration, and the clan leaders, entrusted with cultural authority. Buganda thus achieved internal stability as there was no fighting between the different clans and counties.

Relations between Buganda and her neighbours ranged from being peaceful to troublesome. At times, there was amiable trade and exchange of goods and expertise but on other occasions these neighbours were at war, seeking territorial expansion and looted wealth. Wars between Buganda and Bunyoro are well known and we also recall Buganda's incursions into Busoga and Kiziba, by the coming of the White man.

The Coming of Foreigners

At the beginning of the 19th century (1800 AD), foreigners, including Arabs and Swahili (Wangwana) as well as Europeans, who had heard of about Buganda's fame, were eager to visit the Kabaka.

The Religious Wars

The presence of foreign religions preached by people of different origin led to crisis in the land. It all began with debates on religious matters at the King's court and in chiefs' enclosures, with each party claiming to have brought the true religion of the Creator, and seeking endearment before the King. With time, each of the foreign religious parties won over followers from among the nationals. The followers first differed in new forms of worship before developing further difference in worldly matters, such as economy, governance and conduct. This resulted in religious wars that shook the Baganda and their clan- order for about ten years.

These differences even directly affected the Ganda Monarchy. By the time of his death, King Muteesa I had practiced Islam and Christianity. King Mwanga II Basammula (1884-1897) practiced Christianity but he was more inclined to the religion of his ancestors. Mwanga II eventually grew hostile to all new religious factions in Buganda, and all three agreed to depose him on 10/10/1888. When he went into exile among the Catholic at Bukumbi, south of Lake Nalubaale (Victoria), his eldest brother, Kiweewa Mutebi , was enthroned King. Mwanga II later moved to Bulingugwe Island, where he was joined by the Protestants to constitute a joint Christian force that helped him dislodge the Muslims who had taken over his capital. He first regained power momentarily in October 1889 and definitely came back to power in January 1890.

Kiweewa Mutebi's reign did not last. He was criticised by the influencial Muslim faction for rejecting the Islamic rite of circumcision. On 22/10/1888, he was replaced with a younger brother, Nuhu Kalema, who embraced Islam and accepted circumcision. For the time he was King, Nuhu Kalema was constantly at war, he was overthrowned in October 1889, regained power the following month, and was ultimately routed by the joint Christian force in January 1890. He died of smallpox while attempting to return to power from his Kijungute base, where he had retreated with his men .

In the end, Mwanga II fell out with the Europeans, and with the Queen Mother's connivance, he launched a rebellion against the British colonialists. He died in exile on the Seychelles Islands found in the Indian Ocean. On departure to exile he was succeed by his one-year old son, King Daudi Chwa Bukaajumbe, on 14/08/1897.

Sharing Counties, Chiefships and Clan Leadership

On behalf of the Imperial British East Africa Company, Captain Frederick Lugard arrived in Buganda in 1891, tasked with reorganising a country that was soon to be part of the British Empire. He was to get involved in negociations aimed at ending the religious wars in Buganda. On 05/04/1892, together with religious leaders, Baganda chiefs and other Europeans on mission, Captain Lugard took part in talks that culminated into the sharing of the counties of Buganda on the basis of religious affiliation, hoping to resolve the differences rooted in religious factionalism that had divided the nation.

"Rafael Kawuma became the Nnamwama (Kkobe Clan Head)" - appointed in April 1893, marking the beginning of the leadership crisis in the Kkobe Clan.

Usurpation of Legitimate Clan Authority

From the first Nnamwama, Nsereko Kalamazi, in the days of King Kintu, to the current one, Augustine Kizito Mutumba, the Kkobe Clan has had 40 'Nnamwamas'.

Kkobe Clan Leadership Cases

Due to the various developments highlighted herein, Kyana's Supra Royal Lineage (Olunyiriri lwa Kyana) lost its legitimate right to the Namwama- ship, when it was usurped by persons belonging to the Sub-clans (Amasiga), whereas clan norms prohibit them from holding this top Kkobe Clan semi-heridatary/semi-elective office. Kauma R. and his heirs are known to originate from the Namukangula Sub-clan.

Each Sub-clan (Ssiga) has a central ancestral land, and the headship in the Sub-clan (Obwessiga) is held by a person belonging to a specific Sub-clan 'Royal Lineage' (Lunyiriri Lulangira) in a Sub-clan Division (Mutuba) with recogonised exclusive right to the 'Obwessiga'. The 'Obwessiga' is also semi-hereditary/semi elective, just like the Namwama- ship (Obwanamwama). This means that a clan leader is not necessarily succeeded by his son, but by either his son or a clan member from Kyana's Supra Royal Lineage, following wide consultation among clan stakeholders and a clear electoral process. Clan leadership positions are normally held for life but a clan leader may lose office due incapacitation, voluntary withdrawal or gross misconduct. The Namwama-ship is held by descendants of Kyana's Supra Royal Lineage that is made up of a number Royal Sub-lineages (Emituba Emilangira). A Namwama may hail from any of the different Royal Sub-lineages. The Kyana Lineage is headed by the holder of the title 'Kyana', who is the 'Paramount Prince' (Ssabalangira) of the Kkobe Clan, responsible for installing the Namwama and without claim to the top clan office. Kyana's ancestral seat is found at Ttiribogo, in Mawokota County. The conditions governing the Kyana's nomination and election are similar to those applicaple to the top clan and sub-clan headship. The Kyana originates from any of the Royal Sub-lineages and he is only elected by members of his Lineage.

At first, whoever spoke of the usurpation of Kkobe Clan leadership was taxed with fanning discrimination against Catholics in the Clan. Namwama Kabizzi's descendants were among the Clan Royals that were dettered from reclaiming clan leadership due to such accusations. The 'Kabizzis' have also produced outstanding figures in the Church of Uganda, such as the late Archbishop Misaeri Kauma. Consequently, the many years of illegitimate leadership at the helm of the Clan, led to a similar wrest of power at the level of the Sub-clans. For instance, the Kauma Sub-clan ended up being led by persons from the Kayiwa Sub-clan. The rightful Kauma leaders had fled Wassozi, an ancestral land located in the Catholic Mawokota, but still after the religious war turmoil, they were not allowed to regain full control of their estates because they had become Muslims. They would only keep some plantain plantations on Wassozi Hill without full land ownership rights.

Since the 1940s, Buganda high courts have been hearing Kkobe Clan leadership cases, and many have ended in fair judgment.

Thereafter, the various unfavourable political developments in Uganda could not allow the Baganda to keenly follow up matters of their clans. In 1962, Uganda gained independence, in 1964, Buganda lost some of its counties to Bunyoro, and in 1966, Prime Minister Apolo Milton Obote overthrew King Muteesa II, assumed full powers and abolished traditional kingship in Uganda. Traditional Kingdoms and cultural leadership were restored in Uganda, under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, on condition of non-participation in partisan politics, as stipulated in Chapter 16, Article 246 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. The entente that has favoured the rebuilding of Buganda Kingdom and Baganda clans under the present National Resistance Movement administration, was preceded by a number of unstable regimes, including Idi Amin Dada's military rule (1971-1979) and Obote's second coming (1980-1985).

The last judgement on Kkobe Clan leadership is dated 26/09/2001, Case KD 08/98 (see Bukedde 28/09/2001). This time, Namwama Leonard Kiragga (1961-2001/2008) accused Charles Kayongo of assuming Namwama-ship and taking part in Buganda clan leaders' meetings at Mengo, in that capacity. A Kkobe Clan royal himself, Kayongo C., who died on 14/08/2010, had been entrusted with powers to serve as acting Namwama. Kisekwa's Court, the Buganda Kingdom cultural court under the current King, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, with reference to the earlier rulings on Kkobe Clan matters, instructed Kyana to convene an assembly of the Sub-clan heads and representatives of the Royal Sub-lineages, to elect a culturally rightful Namwama.
Kyana James Magala Muteeweta obeyed the Court's instructions, and in his letter dated 22/11/2001, he introduced the new Namwama, Augustine Kizito Mutumba, to the Buganda Premiership. Kisekwa's Court acknowledged receipt of Kyana's letter, and wished the new Namwama prosperous tenure of office, in its reply of 19/12/2001.