Buganda Kingdom

Buganda kingdom was one of the largest kingdoms that existed in the present day Uganda. Some other major kingdoms that existed within the present day Uganda were Toro, Ankore, Bunyoro and Busoga.
The Buganda kingdom was founded by the Baganda people. Historically the Baganda society went through transformation before the formation of Buganda kingdom. The earliest period of the people of Baganda did not withness centralized political structure. The lineages existed separately with each having its own head. The lineage head was referred to as Mutaka. With the movement towards centralization the centralized ruler became the Kabaka (The head of the head of the clans).
The creation of centrality was not so easy because the private interest of some clan heads who were not disposed and comfortable with control of their clan by any individual. The move for central control led to the establishment of the position of the Kabaka. It was during the reign of Kabaka Mawanga in the early 18th century that road to strong and centralized Buganda was established. The system established by him and later sustained by his successors helped in strengthening the powers and influence of the Kabaka at the expense of traditional clan chiefs.
The early 19th century withnessed the increase in the control and authority of the Kabaka over the clans and as well the reduction in the hereditary hold of some clans by some chiefs. This period withness a great increase on the ability of the Kabaka to appoint chiefs of clans not considering hereditary factor. Appointments in the kingdom were made by the Kabaka himself. The Kabaka was able to remove, demote, dismiss or punish any of the chiefs or government official he appointed. This gave him more power. This situation helped to make the Kabaka to control the kingdom firmly and as well help the kingdom to grow.
By the 19th century the power to control the military was firmly under the Kabaka. The military commander as that time was made to be the appointee of the kabaka. He as well appoint the other officers. He was as well in control of the weapons. Apart from some locally made weapons, most of their weapons were gotten from the Arab world.
Islam was embraced because of the potentials the ruling class saw in it. The principles of Islam helped the Kabaka to strengthen control of the kingdom. With the sight of the potentials of Islam, the Kabaka then called Kabaka Mutese around 1844 warmly embrace the Arab and Swahili Moslems that came spreading Islamic values in the Kingdom. The potential of territorial control, long distant trade, acquisition of weapons etc played formidable roles in the Kabaka’s encouragement in the spread of the religion.
Kabaka Mutese’s acceptance of Islam saw him adopting Islamic calendar, dressing like Arabs, observe Ramadan, building Mosques both in his court and outside etc.
Unfortunately, Kabaka Mutese later started observing the negative impact of his acceptance of Islam in Buganda. This was because, he started losing control of the directions of the religion and the religion became a uniting force for opposition in the kingdom. This became a very big source of worry to Kabaka Mutese who started withnessing disobedience from some of his subjects. Even some of his former loyalists became more dedicated to the religion than allegiance to the Kabaka. Angered by this development Kabak Mutese in 1876 ordered the killing of over one hundred of them in other to put fear into others.
The pressure from the influence of Islam made Kabak Mutese to warmly welcome the European Christian missionaries when they entered his territory. Although he did not convert to Christianity but he became careful in overseeing the activities of the Christian missionaries in other not to make mistake he made with the Muslims.




Get an ebook copy of KANEM-BORNO EMPIRE: A great Political Geographic Location that existed in Africa Written by Onuh Fortunatus the Moderator of this website. To get it click the link below.