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1
Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Hi. D.
by
M.S.Kiwanuka
/ B I B I f N (LONMIN.
V U N IV .y
The Traditional .Histor^ of the Buganda K i n g d o m ; with special reference to the Historical Writings
of Sir Apolp Kaggwa \
A B S T R A C T
In c o m m i t t i n g B u g a n d a ' s oral t r a d i t i o n s to w r i t i n g , K a g g w a did not c o n s c i o u s l y set out to w r i t e a h i s t o r y of
H u g a n d a . C o n s e q u e n t l y , some of these t r a d i t i o n s are m e r e legends, t h o u g h t h e y are b e i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y u s e d b y the h i s t o r i a n s as h i s t o r i c a l s o u r c e s . S u c h i n t e r e s t , has d e m o n s t r a t e d the n e e d lor a c r i t i c a l s t u d y of th e s e t r a d i
tions so as to d i s e n t a n g l e h i s t o r y fr o m m y t h o l o g y . And in o r d e r to m a k e K a g g w a 1s w o r k a v a i l a b l e to the w o r l d of lea r n i n g , an ICnglish t r a n s l a t i o n has b e e n m a d e vith
a n n o t a t i o n s . Iiut a l t h o u g h we have f o u n d the K i g a n d a t r a d i tions l a r g e l y r e l i a b l e some of the c o n c l u s i o n s d r a w n fron the m are b y no m e a n s d e f i n i t i v e .
One l e a r n s f r o m th e s e t r a d i t i o n s , s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the s e t t l e m e n t and the e x p a n s i o n of H u g a n d a , a n d the g r o w t h of h er p o l i t i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . B u g a n d a fs e a r l y h i s t o r y is that of a s t r u g g l i n g small k i n g d o m s u r r o u n d e d b y a p o w e r f u l n e i g h b o u r , llunyoro, but the p i c t u r e c h a n g e s d u r i n g the 17th c e n t u r y w h e n H u g a n d a b e g i n s to e x p a n d at B u n y o r o ' s e x p e n s e , an.d b y the b e g i n n i n g of the 1 9 1li c e n t u r y , she had a l r e a d y b e c o m e the d o m i n a n t power. T h i s e x p a n s i o n , c r e a t e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d m i l i t a r y p r o b l e m s . H e n c e n e w c h i e f t a i n s h i
w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d a n d t h r o u g h them, H u g a n d a d e v e l o p e d an e f f i c i e n t s y s t e m of local g o v e r n m e n t d o m i n a t e d by the King, but o r i g i n a l l y the k i n g w a s more or less e q u a l to the H a t aka.
B U g a n d a ’s i s o l a t i o n f r o m the o u t s i d e world, w a s b r o k e n d u r i n g the r e i g n of Suna II by the v i s i t s of the Arabs. T h e y w e r e f o l l o w e d b y the E u r o p e a n e x p l o r e r s and m i s s i o n a r i e s d u r i n g the r e i g n of M u t e s a I. T h e i r existence
in B u g a n d a , the i n t r o d u c t i o n of f i r e a r m s and o t h e r trade goods, the t e a c h i n g s of C h r i s t i a n i t y and Islam; c o m b i n e d to a c c e l e r a t e the p o l i t i c a l and s o c i a l r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h had b e g u n two c e n t u r i e s b e f o r e .
CONTENTS.
Abstract Glossary
Kiganda King lists Genealogical List
pp.3-4 PP.6 pp.7-8 P. P
Chapter I or the Introduction, pp. 10-61 Chapter II
Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VTI
pp.63-137 pp.138-176 pp. 177-250 pp.251- 334 pp. 335-467 pp. 470-635 ftp. 635-651
652-658 Sources
Appendix (Genealogical Tables) PP IN THE POCKETS
Buganda at about A.D. 1400
Buganda at the end of the 17th Century.
Buganda at the end of the 18th century.
Map Map Map Map
A B C
D Buganda at the end of the reign of Mutesa I,
(1884).
Glossary1 Butaka
Mutaka (s) Bataka (pi):
Kitongole (s)Bitongole (pi):
Hkej je:
: vuma or Katinvuma:
J.Roy. Anthr. Inst.:
Ug. J . : T. N. R. :
c.::.8.:CA6/ and GA3/
C13, C1U, E15# and E16:
Ancestral land.
Clan head or an important old man holding a traditional ritual office.
An administrative unit or an organised body of men responsibl for special duties.
Kind of fish.
Kind of grass.
Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute.
Uganda Journal.
Tanganyika Notes and Records.
Church Missionary Society.
References to the C.M.S. . » Documents.
References to the V/hite Father'^ Documents.
1. The meaning given to the Luganda words, is strictly
limited to the sense in which they are used in the
text.
1 2
3 4 5
67
89 10
11 1213 14 13 16 17 18 19
2021 22
TABLE I
A
KIGANPA K i m U S T S COMPIIfD BY VARIOUS AUTHORS
®ar spjfla.1
By Stanley 2 By R/ft'.Felkin^ By Felkin A C.T.Y<1l3on 4
5 By Kaggwa
Kimera Kintu or Ham Kintu or Ham Ham or Kintu Kintu
Mahanda Chr/a Cwa Cwa Chwa
Katereza Kamiera Kalemera Kalemela Kimera
Chabago Kimera Kimera Kimela Tembo
Simakokiro Alma38 Rumansi Rumaansi Kiggala
K&manya Tembo Tembo Tembo Kiyimba
Suna Kiggara Kipgaln Kiggala Kayima
Mtesa Y/ampamba V/ampamba Wampamba Nakibinge
Kaeema Kayima Kaima Mulcndo
Nakivingi Nakibinge Nachibinge Jemba
Morondo Murondo Mrondo Suna I
Sekamanya Sekamanya Sekamanya Sekamanya
Jemba Jemba Jemba Kimbugwe
Suna I Suna Suna I Kateregga
Kimbugwe Kimbugwe Chimbugwe ?.futebi
Kateregga Kateregga Kateregga Juko
Ntewi Mutebi Mtebe Kayemba
Juko Juko Juko Tebandeke
Kyemba Kayemba Kaemba Ndawula
Tiwandeke Tebandeke Tibandeke Kagulu
Ndowra Ndawula Ndaula KikulY/e
Kaguru Kagulu Kapura Mawanda
By Speke By Stanley By R.Vi,Felkin By Felkin &
C,T.Vilson
By_ Kaggwa
23 Kikuruwe Kikulwe Chikurwe J/wanga I
24 Mr.^wnda Mawanda ilawaanda Namugala
25 Msangi Mu3anje Msanje Kyabaggu
26 Namugara Namugala Namgaba Junju
27 Chabagu Kyabaggu Chabaggu Semakokiro
28 Junju Junju Junju K am any a
29 Y»cse j je Wasajj& Wasajja Suna II
3C Keznanya K am any a Kam-pya Mutesa d . 18(34
31 Sune Sun a Suna II
32 ?.'tesa Mutesa Mtesa
1. J.H. Speke. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile (London 1863) P . 2 5 2 .
2. K.V. Stanley. Through the Dark Continent Vol.I (London 1878) pp.
344
-381
. On p.3°l Stanley supplies another slightly different list uhich was not supplied by Mutesa and it consists of 35 names.3. Notice on the Waganda Tribe of Central Africa (Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Edinburgh Vol.xiii (1885-86) pp.669-770.
4. Uganda and the Egyptian Sudan Vol.I (London 1882) p. 177.
The Rev.C.T.Wilson was one of the first C.M.S. missionaries to come to Buganda in 1877. Ur. Felkin belonged to the second party which arrived by the Nile Route at the beginning of 1879.
TABLE l.B
The Geneology of the Ki.ga.nda dynasty (According to Kaggwaj KINTU (I)
CWANABAKA (2 KALEtf.ERA
vV
a:'i1P aIi.B aJ K v. Ba ( l u ;
KAYE1.BA (17)
IvUSANJE K I K U L W E (21)
L )_ K YaBa GGU ( 2 5 4 _____
u ---
I
KIMEH
a(1)
I ___
1
LUMANSI
T E M B O (4) .J,
K I U u A L A (54 KIYIjIBa ( 6 4
_ K a Y I M A (74
NAKIBINGE (b)
I
. J.ULONDO (.9 4__
SEKAMANYA (124
K.ATEREGGA (14 4 _ i.UTEBI (15)-
KIMBUGWE (13)
SUNA I (II)
J
JUKO (16) TE3ANDEKE (lb)
NDAWULA (19) -JC
aGULU ( 2 0 ) _
MWAHG
aI (234- _ JUNJU (264__
K Ai.aN Y A (28) --- *---
S6NA II (29)
t.UX
eS
jaI (30) (I). 1684)
a
'V
aNDA (22) NAMUGALA (24 4 .SKMaKOKI ;0 (27 4
I
1. See chapter 2.
2. See chapter 3.
10
T H E T R A D I T I O N A L H I S T O R Y O F B U G A N D A
A h u n d r e d y e a r s ago, A f r i c a was m e r e l y the " D a r k C o n t i n e n t " * , and p r o b a b l y no one in E u r o p e or A m e r i c a
b e l i e v e d that t h e r e w a s s u c h a t h i n g as A f r i c a n h i s t o r y . Less than h a l f a c e n t u r y a g o the s t u d y of A f r i c a n h i s t o r y was j u s t b e g i n n i n g . But a l t h o u g h this w a s c a l l e d A f r i c a n h i s t o r y then, it was in fact the h i s t o r y of the E u r o p e a n s
in A f r i c a r e c o u n t i n g t h e i r c o l o n i a l a c t i v i t i e s . D u r i n g the last ten yea r s , howev e r , p r o g r e s s has b e e n m a d e t o w a r d s the s t u d y of w h a t is t r u l y A f r i c a n h i s t o r y - the h i s t o r y of the i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s . Today, the s u b j e c t is no l o n g e r a m a t t e r of o c c a s i o n a l s c h o l a r l y forays. It is r e c o g n i s e d as part of the w o r l d h i s t o r y , the h i s t o r y of
2
the w h o l e h u m a n race. D e s p i t e the p r o g r e s s w h i c h has so far b e e n made, the old m y t h that B l a c k A f r i c a had no h i s t o r y w o r t h r e c o r d i n g b e f o r e the C o l o n i a l p e r i o d still l i n g e r s
on. The m a i n a r g u m e n t use d b e i n g that t h e r e are no w r i t t e n
1. See II.M. S t a n l e y , T h r o u g h the Dark C o n t i n e n t in 2 Vols.
(L o n d o n ,1878), In D a r k e s t A f r i c a , (L o n d o n ,1890); See al s o Carl P e t ers, N e w L i g h t in D a r k A f r i c a . (London, 1891). The
tit l e s of t h e s e b o o E s w e r e p r o b a b l y c h o s e n w i t h a j o u r n a l i s t ’s g i f t for s t i m u l a t i n g i n t e r e s t . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e y e x p r e s s e d the a t t i t u d e of the W r i t e r s ’ c o n t e m p o r a r i e s in E u r o p e and A m e r i c a a b o u t Africa.
2. See P r o f e s s o r it. O l i v e r , A f r i c a n H i s t o r y for the O u t s i d e W o r l d ; an i n a u g u r a l l e c t u r e d e l i v e r e d on 13 M a v 1964 (L o n d o n
1964).
r e c o r d s , and that oral t r a d i t i o n s are not a s u i t a b l e s u b j e c t for h i s t o r i c a l study. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e s e
a r g u m e n t s are u s e d e v e n b y h i s t o r i a n s w h o ha v e s t u d i e d oral t r a d i t i o n . T h u s Dr. W i l k s has c o n t e n d e d that the y hav e no h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e n t , b u t are s i m p l y m y t h s i n v e n t e d to m e e t p a r t i c u l a r p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s . 1 V i e w s like these, are not o n l y u n c o n v i n c i n g , b u t they b e t r a y a g e n e r a l m i s c o n c e p t i o n a b o u t h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g . T h e y c r e a t e a f a l s e
i m p r e s s i o n that h i s t o r y has a l w a y s b e e n w r i t t e n fro m p r i n t e d d o c u m e n t s . One m a n w h o may be d e s c r i b e d as the F a t h e r of h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g is H e r o d o t u s . He b e l i e v e d in the v a l u e of oral s o u r c e s , and lie s e e m s to have d e t e r m i n e d t h e i r p a r a m o u n t a n c y for m a n y c e n t u r i e s a f t e r w a r d s . T r u e e n o u g h the G r e e k and Ro m a n a n t i q u a r i a n s k n e w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the use of d o c u m e n t s , but the p r e - e m i n e n c e of
p e r s o n a l o b s e r v a t i o n and oral e v i d e n c e l a s t e d un t i l the h i s t o r i a n d e c i d e d to go to the r e c o r d s o f f i c e a n d to the a r c h i v e s . B u t so far as the e v i d e n c e goes, f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h the a r c h i v e s is a r e c e n t l y a c q u i r e d h a b i t of the h i s t o r i a n , and it has b e c o m e e f f e c t i v e a n d u n i v e r s a l l y a c c e p t e d less t h a n two c e n t u r i e s ago.
W h y then hav e h i s t o r i a n s u n d e r e s t i m a t e d the
1. Q u o t e d by J. V a n s i n a , Oral ’T r a d i t i o n (Lon d o n , 1965) p p . 1-18. He suras up the v i e w s of the d i f f e r e n t w r i t e r s on t r a d i t i o n a l h i s t o r y .
12
p o s s i b i l i t i e s of oral t r a d i t i o n s ? A r e t h e y m o r e s u b j e c t to e r r o r s or to f a l s e h o o d s ? C e r t a i n l y not. I n d e e d e v e n the texts w h i c h m a y s e e m the mos t a c c o m m o d a t i n g w i l l only s p e a k the t r u t h if t h e y are p r o p e r l y q u e s t i o n e d . M a g n a Carta, p r o v i d e s one of the b e s t e x a m p l e s in E n g l i s h H i s t o r y of how s o u r c e s can y i e l d useful i n f o r m a t i o n if r i g o r o u s l y c r o s s e x a m i n e d . For c e n t u r i e s , K n g l i s h h i s t o r y has t a u g h t that the s e c r e t of E n g l i s h l i b e r t i e s is the G r e a t C h a r t e r e x t o r t e d fro m K i n g J o h n and s i g n e d on J u n e 15th or 19th,
1215.* One of the g r e a t a c h i e v e m e n t s of the C h a r t e r , so we w e r e taught, was to r e c o n f i r m the o l d e r p o p u l a r l i b e r t i e s of the S a x o n s w h i c h the N o r m a n s had s wept away.
D u r i n g the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l d i s p u t e s of the 17th c e n t u r y , the m y t h s of the C h a r t e r a s s u m e d g r e a t e r s i g n i f i c a n c e than the r e a l i t y . F o r t u n a t e l y , h i s t o r i c a l s c r u t i n y d u r i n g
the last h u n d r e d y e a r s has e x p o s e d m u c h of the m y t h b e h i n d the M a g n a C a r t a and it w i l l c o n t i n u e to do so as long as more r i g o r o u s s c r u t i n y is c a r r i e d out. A l r e a d y , c o n s t i t u t i o n a l and legal e x p e r t s have b e g u n to d o u b t w h e t h e r K i n g J o h n e v e r s i g n e d the C h a r t e r , b e c a u s e he may not hav e
2
b e e n ab l e to w r i t e . S i m i l a r l y , if oral t r a d i t i o n s are as r i g o r o u s l y q u e s t i o n e d as the w r i t t e n d o c u m e n t s t h e y
1. W.S. M c K e n c h n i e , M a g n a C a r t a (2nd Edi. 1914 G l a s g o w ) pp 530.
2. J u d g m e n t by Lo r d D e n n i n g , M a s t e r of the dolls, Law lleport in the G u a r d i a n of 1st June, 1965.
___________________ ___________________
w i l l yiel d , if not c o m p l e t e a n s w e r s , at l east c l u e s w h i c h m a y lead to f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n . For i n s t a n c e , one K i g a n d a t r a d i t i o n a s s e r t s that all the d e s c e n d a n t s of B u k u l u d i e d w i t h o u t issue, and then b e c a m e the B a g a n d a
gods. T h i s w o u l d a p p e a r to be an u n t r u s t w o r t h y a s s e r t i o n , and f r o m a c o m p a r i s o n of the K i g a n d a and S e s s e t r a d i t i o n s ,
it is p o s s i b l e to d i s c o v e r the m o t i v e s for suc h a f a l s i f i c a t i o n .
One of the w a y s in w h i c h an oral t r a d i t i o n can o r i g i n a t e is ru m o u r , "a p i e c e of ne w s that the i n i t i a l i n f o r m a n t h e a r d and m a d e use of in his t e s t i m o n y ” . T h i s is c o r r e c t l y r e g a r d e d as one of the m a j o r d e f e c t s of oral t r a d i t i o n s . But the p r o b l e m of r u m o u r is not c o n f i n e d to oral s o u r c e s . At least one e x a m p l e f r o m B u g a n d a h i s t o r y w i l l i l l u s t r a t e this. In 1901, S i r A p o l o K a g g w a w a n t e d
to p o s t p o n e his v i s i t to E n g l a n d , b e c a u s e , as he c l a i m e d his a b s e n c e .
" w o u l d be s e i z e d u p o n by t h o s e w h o w e r e d i s l o y a l to the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n to c r e a t e t r o u b l e in the l a n d " l
K a g g w a , h o w e v e r , d i d not s p e c i f y w h o the w o u l d - b e t r o u b l e m a k e r s w ere, and F r e d e r i c k J a c k s o n , w h o w a s then the D e p u t y C o m m i s s i o n e r r e c o g n i s e d that K a g g w a ’s fears w e r e b a s e d on
1. F O A / 162, J a c k s o n to L a n s d o w n e , 1 3 . July, 1901.
•vague r u m o u r s 1 . N e v e r t h e l e s s , he c o n c l u d e d that, M u g w a n y a , the l e a d i n g C a t h o l i c chief, was the l i k e l y s o u r c e of t r o u b l e , and lie a c c o r d i n g l y i n f o r m e d L o r d L a n s d o w n e . * Y e t no
one w h o has s t u d i e d the p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r of M u g w a n y a can a c c e p t the v i e w that he w a n t e d to s t i r up the C a t h o l i c s
2 a g a i n s t the B r i t i s h A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . -
A n o t h e r d e f e c t r i g h t l y a t t r i b u t e d to oral sour c e s , is that the o r i g i n a l i n f o r m a n t may w i t h h o l d the true i n f o r m a tion and t h e r e b y pass on to the next g e n e r a t i o n a s t o r y
w h i c h is p a r t i a l l y true. But here a g a i n the e v i d e n c e s h o w s that the p r o b l e m of d e a l i n g in h a l f t r u t h s is not c o n f i n e d to oral t r a d i t i o n . D u r i n g W o r l d W a r II, the B r i t i s h A i r Force, b o m b e d and d e s t r o y e d the C i t y of D r e s d e n in N o r t h e r n G e r m a n y k i l l i n g o v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e in less than f o r t y
e i g h t hours. But the B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t k e p t the p u b l i c 3 i g n o r a n t of the true f acts for n e a r l y f i f t e e n yea r s . And yet, d u r i n g that period, v o l u m e s of d o c u m e n t s p u r
p o r t i n g to g i v e a true a c c o u n t of the w a r had b e e n m a d e a v a i l a b l e b y the g o v e r n m e n t .
It is thus c l e a r that there is no b a s i c d i f f e r ence b e t w e e n h i s t o r y w r i t t e n from d o c u m e n t a r y s o u r c e s and t r a d i t i o n a l h i s t o r y w r i t t e n f r o m oral s o u r c e s . Tru e
e n ough, w r i t t e n d o c u m e n t s are r e l a t i v e l y e a s i e r to che c k ,
1. Ibid.
2. J. K a s i r y e , O b u l a m u bwa S t a n s l a u s M u g w a n y a (London, 1963) pp. xii + 218.
3. D.C.J. Ir v i n g , T h e D e s t r u c t i o n of D r e s d e n (London, 1963)
10
b e c a u s e o t h e r s o u r c e s m a y e x i s t in a n o t h e r l a n g u a g e , or on a r e l a t e d s u b j e c t . For i n s t a n c e , if one is i n t e r e s t e d in the q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r f e u d a l i s m had L a t i n or G e r m a n i c o r i g i n s , one m a y s t u d y the o r i g i n s and s i g n i f i c a n c e of the w o r d s
*b e n e f i c i u m 1 a m o n g the Latin, and ' f i e f 1 a m o n g the G e r m a n s p e a k i n g p e o p l e s . Or if one is i n t e r e s t e d in the d e v e l o p m e n t of the f e u d a l s y s t e m in E n g l a n d , one ne e d not limit o n e ’s r e s e a r c h e s to F r e e m a n w h o c o n t e n d e d that f e u d a l i s m was i n t r o d u c e d b y the N o r m a n s . ^ O t h e r s o u r c e s , such as
the w r i t i n g s of F r e d e r i c k M a i t l a n d w i l l be a v a i l a b l e to a r g u e the o t h e r c a s e that eve n b e f o r e the N o r m a n c o n q u e s t ,
there w e r e a l r e a d y f e u d a l e l e m e n t s in the A n g l o - S a x o n s o c i e t y of the 9th and 10th c e n t u r i e s . W i t h oral t r a d i tion, h o w e v e r , the s c o p e for such c o m p a r i s o n s is limited, but not as c r i p p i n g l y as is g e n e r a l l y t h o u g h t . T a k e
the e x a m p l e of the I n t e r l a c u s t r i n e s t ates: T h e i r h i s t o r y has m a n y t i e - u p s t h r o u g h w h i c h c r o s s - c h e c k i n g of the
e v e n t s in one c o u n t r y a g a i n s t t h ose in a n o t h e r can be made. We k n o w fro m the K i n y o r o t r a d i t i o n s that it w a s p r o b a b l y K i n g O l i m i I w h o f o u g h t and k i l l e d K i n g N a k i b i n g e of B u g a n d a , . We k n o w al s o that d u r i n g the r e i g n of J u n j u
1. E.A. F r e e m a n , H i s t o r y of the N o r m a n C o n q u e s t of E n g l a n d , its c a u s e s and r e s u l t s , in 6 volutees. (O x f o r d , i 3 6 t - l $ 7 9 ), See a l s o F. M a i t l a n d , D o o m s d a y b o o k and b e y o n d ; T h r e e e s s a y s in the E a r l y E n g l i s h H i s t o r y (C a m b r i d g e .1897 ).
in B u g a n d a , D u h a g a I w a s the K i n g of B u n y o r o , a n d we can c o n f i r m this K i n y o r o t r a d i t i o n by c o m p a r i n g it w i t h the t r a d i t i o n s of the f o r m e r k i n g d o m of Koki.
Bu t w h e n all is said and done, one m u s t face the fact that the v e r y n a t u r e and d i v e r s i t y of oral t r a d i t i o n s c r e a t e s p e c i a l p r o b l e m s and mak e a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e d e m a n d s u p o n the h i s t o r i a n . To r e s e a r c h in t r a d i t i o n a l h i s t o r y one s h o u l d k n o w not o n l y the l a n g u a g e , b u t the s o c i e t y , the p o l i t i c s a n d the c u l t u r e of the p e o p l e w h o s e h i s t o r y one is d e a l i n g w ith. If one is c o n d u c t i n g i n t e r v i e w s , one s h o u l d k n o w the p s y c h o l o g y of o n e ’s i n f o r m a n t s , a n d d e c i d e w h e n to a s k a p a r t i c u l a r q u e s t i o n . All this
p r e s u p p o s e s tha t i d e a l l y t r a d i t i o n a l h i s t o r y can o n l y be a d e q u a t e l y h a n d l e d by the i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n w h o s p e a k s
the l a n g u a g e a n d w h o k n o w s the s o c i e t y of his own people.
But if this w e r e do n e the i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t s w o u l d be b a d for the s t u d y of A f r i c a n h i s t o r y . For like a n y o t h e r k i n d of h i s t o r y , it o u g h t to be s t u d i e d b y f o r e i g n e r s w h o are free f r o m n o t i o n a l or t r i b a l p r e j u d i c e s . The s e c o n d p r o b l e m is that oral t r a d i t i o n s d e m a n d that the h i s t o r i a n s h o u l d be a b l e to h a n d l e d i v e r s e t y pes of e v i dence, b e c a u s e e v e r y t h i n g the past age has left o f f e r s m a t e r i a l for the h i s t o r i a n ; the l a n g u a g e m e n use d to
17
speak, a n d the s a y i n g s t h e y co i n e d ; the s h r i n e s they buil t , the b o d y r e m a i n s of t h e i r a n c e s t o r s t h e y p r e s e r v e d and the
' u n n a t u r a l h a p p e n i n g s in the sky', t h e y m a y have o b s e r v e d ; are v a l u a b l e h i s t o r i c a l s ources. But t h e i r p r o p e r
h a n d l i n g r e q u i r e s the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the l i n g u i s t , of the a r c h a e o l o g i s t , of the s t u d e n t of art w h o is c o n c e r n e d w i t h the m a t e r i a l l e g a c y and c u l t u r e of the past, of the a n t h r o p o l o g i s t w h o e m p l o y s e t h n o g r a p h i c a l m e t h o d s of
i n q u i r y a n d o b s e r v a t i o n , and eve n of the a s t r o n o m e r , w h o
<*cA
can c a l c u l a t e a n d d e t e r m i n e the e x t e n t of the s h o w of an e c 1 i p s e .
T o d a y , the s t u d e n t of p r e - c o l o n i a l A f r i c a lias at his d i s p o s a l the a c c o u n t s of the e x p l o r e r s and of the m i s s i o n a r i e s d e a l i n g w i t h the i m m e d i a t e p r e - c o l o n i a l past.
But t h o u g h v a l u a b l e , the v e r y e x i s t e n c e of t h e s e s o u r c e s h e l p s to e m p h a s i z e the p o i n t w h i c h Dr. V a n s i n a has so f o r c e a b l y a r g u e d , n a m e l y that on h i s t o r i c a l s o u r c e can
be g o o d or b a d w h e t h e r w r i t t e n or o r a l . * A c u r s o r y g l a n c e at t hese a c c o u n t s r e v e a l s that t h e y are s u p e r f i c i a l , and s o m e t i m e s i n a c c u r a t e . T h a t they s h o u l d be s u p e r f i c i a l is not s u r p r i s i n g , b e c a u s e the men and w o m e n w h o w r o t e t h e m o f t e n did not s t a y long e n o u g h to k n o w the l a n g u a g e of, or to u n d e r s t a n d the s o c i e t i e s th e y w r o t e abou t . To
1. J. V a n s i n a o p . c i t . p p . 1-18.
take the I n t e r l a c u s t r i n e region, a n o t h i n g has b e d e v i l l e d the s t u d y of its h i s t o r y m o r e than the R a h u m a (Flamitic) theory, f i r s t put f o r w a r d b y the e x p l o r e r , J.H. S p e k e . 1 In the p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n , we shall e x a m i n e the liahuma h y p o t h e s i s in the l ight of w h a t has b e e n w r i t t e n a b o u t
the R a g a n d a . In the 19th c e n t u r y , B u g a n d a was an i n d e p e n d e n t a n d d y n a m i c k i n g d o m . Its h e r e d i t a r y m o n a r c h y p r o u d l y b o a s t e d of a long list of a n c e s t o r s s t r e t c h i n g b a c k for n e a r l y five h u n d r e d years. W i t h its h i g h l y o r g a n i s e d s y s t e m of g o v e r n m e n t and well e s t a b l i s h e d t r a d i tions, this k i n g d o m , set on the e q u a t o r , p r o v i d e d a
s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t to the rest of the s u r r o u n d i n g r e g i o n s . A f t e r e x p e r i e n c i n g the c h a o s and the c o n f u s i o n p r e v a i l i n g e l s e w h e r e , the e a r l y e x p l o r e r s , Speke, G r a n t and S t a n l e y w e r e so i m p r e s s e d by the e x i s t e n c e of law and o r d e r in B u g a n d a , t h e y c o n c l u d e d that the k i n g d o m m u s t have b e e n
f o u n d e d by a s u p e r i o r race fro m o u t s i d e t r o p i c a l A f r i c a . W h e n the m i s s i o n a r i e s and the c o l o n i a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s came d u r i n g the last q u a r t e r of the 19th c e n t u r y , t h e y too w e r e s i m i l a r l y i m p r e s s e d . It w a s not onl y the e x i s t e n c e of law and o r d e r w h i c h i m p r e s s e d them, b u t a l s o the c h a r m and m a n n e r s of the people.
1. J o u r n a l of the D i s c o v e r y of the N i l e ( London, 1863),
See a l s o K. I n g h a m The M a k i n g of M o d e r n U g a n d a , (London* 1 9 9 8 ) Some a s p e c t s of the H i s t o r y of B u g a n d a ^ U g . J 7 Vol. 2 0 / 2 ( 1 9 5 6 )
I 0
"To find g e n t l e folk w i t h the c o u r t e s y and m a n n e r s of h i g h l y e d u c a t e d p e o p l e w a s i n d e e d a s u r p r i s e . "
w r o t e the m i s s i o n a r y J. R o s c o e . * All t hese c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of the B a g a n d a s e e m e d to c o n f i r m the i n i t i a l a s s u m p t i o n s of Speke, and t h e y w e r e e x p a n d e d by s u b s e q u e n t w r i t e r s .
In 1882, the m i s s i o n a r i e s C.T. W i l s o n a n d R.W.
F e l k i n m a d e the f o l l o w i n g o b s e r v a t i o n on the K i g a n d a M o n a r c h y .
"The r oyal f a m i l y of U g a n d a is of a d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l i t y to the W a g a n d a and b e l o n g s to the W a h u m a tribe, to w h i c h r e f e r e n c e has a l r e a d y b e e n made. Mtes a , t h r o u g h the a d m i x t u r e of N e g r o b l o o d , has lost the pure M h u m a f e a t u r e s , but still r e t a i n s e n o u g h of the p e c u l i a r
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of that tribe to s t a m p h i m as 0 b e l o n g i n g to a d i s t i n c t ra c e f r o m his s u b j e c t s . " ~ W r i t i n g a b o u t the p o p u l a t i o n of B u g a n d a in 1934, S.J.K.
B a n k e r a s s e r t e d ,
" the g r e a t e s t d e g r e e of f u s i o n b e t w e e n the e l e m e n t s (Negro and Ilamite) has t a k e n pl a c e in B u g a n d a w h e r e the B a h i m a t h o u g h r e m a i n i n g as a f e u d a l a r i s t o c r a c y , ha v e lost t h e i r p a s t o r a l m o d e of life and have t e n d e d to b e c o m e a b s o r b e d in the m a s s of the B a n t u c u l t i v a t o r s . T h e r e is m u c h t r u t h in the idea that s o c i a l p r o g r e s s of the B a g a n d a and the h i s t o r i c a l p r o g r e s s of t h e i r k i n g d o m have a r i s e n out of the f u s i o n of t hese
two d i f f e r e n t s t r a i n s . "3
Ev e n as late as 1940, M. T r o w e l l c o u l d s till write,
1. Q u o t e d , L.A. F a l l e r s (Edit), The K i n g ' s men (London, 1964) p . 297.
2. U g a n d a and the E g y p t i a n S udan (London, 1882) Vol. I p p .196-?.
3. A p o p u l a t i o n M a p of U g a n d a , UG. J. Vol. 1/2 (1934) pp. 134-144.
f,In B u g a n d a itself, the H a m i t i c e l e m e n t left its m a r k in the p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e s of the a r i s t o c r a c y and in the g e n i u s of the. s o c i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n of the K i n g d o m . ”1
Ev e n t h e s e few q u o t a t i o n s , d i s p l a y one k i n d of d e f e c t in the e x i s t i n g w r i t t e n s o u r c e s on p r e - c o l o n i a l A f r i c a . The b e l i e f that the u n u s u a l l y p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i s a t i o n of B u g a n d a was e x p l i c a b l e only in t e rms of a s u p e r i o r
i m m i g r a n t race, d e m o n s t r a t e s the d a n g e r s of the d i f f u s i o n i s t 2
t h e o r i e s h e l d b y some a n t h r o p o l o g i s t s . P o s s i b l y the
H a m i t i c h y p o t h e s i s m i g h t be a r g u e d p e r s u a s i v e l y in the cas e of the n e i g h b o u r i n g K i n g d o m s of A n k o l e a n d Kwanda, but
h a r d l y so in that of B u g a n d a w h e r e t here w a s n e i t h e r an a r i s t o c r a c y n o r a d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the r u l e r and the
ruled. F u r t h e r m o r e , if the soc i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i s a t i o n of B u g a n d a was the r e s u l t of the H a m i t i c i n v a s i o n , the l o g i cal c o n c l u s i o n w o u l d be that the K i n g d o m s of A n k o l e a n d
B u n y o r o , w h i c h are b e l i e v e d to have had a l a r g e r H a m i t i c p o p u l a t i o n , w e r e m o r e e f f i c i e n t l y g o v e r n e d . But the
c o n t r a r y w a s the case. P r e s e n t e d w i t h suc h s o u r c e s , the h i s t o r i a n of p r e - c o l o n i a l A f r i c a mus t d e c i d e w h e t h e r to r e l y s o l e l y on t h e m or to s u p p l e m e n t t h e m w i t h the o n l y a v a i l a b l e a c c o u n t s of the p e o p l e w h o s e h i s t o r y he is
1. C l u e s to A f r i c a n T r i b a l H i s t o r y , Ug.J. Vol. 10/2 (1946) p p . 54-63.
2. J. V a n s i n a ' s A C o m p a r i s o n of A f r i c a n K i n g d o m s (Africa, 32/4, 1962), s h o u l d fee r e a d in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h these views.
21
w r i t i n g about. T h e s e a c c o u n t s c o n s i s t of the oral t r a d i t i o n s w h i c h w e r e h a n d e d dow n f r o m g e n e r a t i o n to
g e n e r a t i o n , s o m e t i m e s w i t h g r e a t a c c u r a c y . It is b e c a u s e of this, that the oral t r a d i t i o n s of B u g a n d a , w h i c h w e r e r e c o r d e d b y Sir A p o l o K a g g w a are v e r y i m p o r t a n t to the h i s t o r i a n . But b e f o r e we e x a m i n e t h e s e t r a d i t i o n s , it is n e c e s s a r y to k n o w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the man h i m s e l f and his h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g s .
A c c o r d i n g to his own a c c o u n t in the text, K a g g w a w a s b o r n a b o u t 1865. But u n f o r t u n a t e l y a p a r t
fr o m his own t e s t i m o n y a b o u t his b i r t h , l i t t l e is k n o w n a b o u t his e a r l i e r y e a r s . It is c l e a r f r o m the e v i d e n c e , h o w e v e r , tha t his p a r e n t s p l a c e d h i m in the h o u s e h o l d of a r e l a t i v e w h o w a s h i m s e l f a chief. T h u s the n e x t i m p o r t a n t
i n f o r m a t i o n we get on h i m is w h e n he w a s in the h o u s e h o l d of B a s u d d e , the c h i e f of E k i t o n g o l e E k i s u u n a . 1 D u r i n g the y e a r s he s p e n t in B a s u d d e ’s h o u s e h o l d , K a g g w a m a d e a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h N z a l a m b i w h o was the c a r e t a k e r of the r o y a l m o s q u e . It w a s p r o b a b l y t h r o u g h t h i s a c q u a i n t a n c e that K a g g w a e v e n t u a l l y e n t e r e d the iloyal c o u r t a n d j o i n e d the s e r v i c e of K u l u g i , the c h i e f k e e p e r of the ro y a l stores.
His f i rst job u n d e r K u l u g i w a s to d i s t r i b u t e food a m o n g
1. T h r o u g h o u t his life K a g g w a r e g a r d e d this man as his b e n e f a c t o r and p r o t e c t o r , b e c a u s e w h e n some m e m b e r s of the
G r a s s h o p p e r c l a n a t t e m p t e d to d e c l a n h i m for his a l l e g e d f o r e i g n o r i g i n s , he c a l l e d upo n B a s u d d e to t e s t i f y that he w a s a M u g a n d a a n d that he kne w his p a r e n t s .
the m e m b e r s of the h o u s e h o l d , and this w o u l d a p p e a r to hav e b e e n in 1884, b e c a u s e Z i m b e a r g u e s that b y the time K i n g M u t e s a d i e d ( O c t o b e r 1884), K a g g w a had b e e n in the c o u r t
for a b o u t a y e a r . *
M e a n w h i l e , K a g g w a had b e e n c o n v e r t e d to c h r i s t i - p
a n i t y b y the C.M . S . In 1886, K i n g M w a n g a a r r e s t e d him w i t h o t h e r C h r i s t i a n c o n v e r t s , but he e s c a p e d e x e c u t i o n ,
3
and he was b e a t e n i n s t e a d . He f irst b e c a m e p o l i t i c a l l y p r o m i n e n t in 1887, w h e n he was p r o m o t e d to b e c o m e c h i e f of the royal s t o r e s ( p r o b a b l y in s u c c e s s i o n to his f o r m e r master, K u l u g i ). The n e w a p p o i n t m e n t put h i m at the head
4
of a large n u m b e r of the P r o t e s t a n t c o n v e r t s . T h u s
a f t e r the C i v i l W a r of 1888, K a g g w a got the c h i e f t a i n s h i p of M u k w e n d a as the l e a d i n g m e m b e r of the P r o t e s t a n t f action.
The t u r n i n g p o i n t in his p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r came d u r i n g the first r e l i g i o u s w a r s of 1887, w h e n the M u s l i m f a c t i o n d e f e a t e d the C h r i s t i a n s and the l a t t e r t o o k r e f u g e in
A n k o l e . T h e n a f t e r H o n o r a t o N y o n y i n t o : , w h o was the P r i m e M i n i s t e r had b e e n k i l l e d in the b a t t l e of M a w u k i (1889),
1. B . Zirabe, B u g a n d a Ne K a b a k a ( K a m p a l a 1939) pp 72-73.
2. S i r A p o l o K a g g w a , E b i k a b y a B a g a n d a ( K a m p a l a 1912) p . 125 3. R.P. Ashe, T w o K i n g s of U g a n d a (London, 1890) p p . 2 1 8 - 9 4. The E k i t o n g o l e E k y e g g w a n k a, of w h i c h he had b e c o m e the chief, w a s f i l l e d m a i n l y b y - the c o n v e r t s of the C . M . S . ju s t as the E k i t o n g o l e E k i g o w a and all the c o u r t p a g e s were
C a t h o l i c s , p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e t h e i r l e a d e r s w e r e c o n v e r t s of the vvhite F a t h e r s .
z a
K a g g w a b e c a m e the l e a d i n g c o n t e n d e r for the o f f i c e of Pr i m e M i n i s t e r a m o n g the C h r i s t i a n g r o u p . T h u s a f t e r the C h r i s t i a n v i c t o r y o v e r the M u s l i m s in 1889, K a g g w a b e c a m e the P r i m e M i n i s t e r and c o n t i n u e d to h o l d the o f f i c e until his e n f o r c e d r e t i r e m e n t in 1926. But long b e f o r e that he had b e e n h o n o u r e d b y the C o l o n i a l G o v e r n m e n t w i t h a K . C . M . G .
Lik e m a n y of his c o n t e m p o r a r i e s , K a g g w a a c q u i r e d a p a s s i o n for w r i t i n g , b u t he h i m s e l f s e e m s to h a v e b e g u n at an e a r l y date to r e c o r d the c o n t e m p o r a r y e v e n t s of the 1 880s a n d 1890s. For i n s t a n c e , one l e a r n s f r o m 11. P. A s h e of the C . M . S . that by 1894, K a g g w a had a l r e a d y w r i t t e n a small b o o k c a l l e d E n t a l o Za B u g a n d a (The W a r s of B u g a n d a ) . * The book, p r e s u m a b l y r e f e r r e d to t h o s e w a r s in w h i c h K u g g w a h i m s e l f hod p l a y e d an i m p o r t a n t role, a n d w h i c h h a d r e
s u l t e d in his b e c o m i n g the P rime M i n i s t e r . Ash e h i m s e l f e x p r e s s e d his i n d e b t n e s s to this small b o o k in the P r e f a c e to his C h r o n i c l e s of B u g a n d a . But the E n t a l o is no l o n g e r ex t a n t , t h o u g h one can s a f e l y a s s u m e that the i n f o r m a t i o n
it c o n t a i n e d w a s i n c l u d e d in the l a t e r w o r k s . T h e s e w e r e the B a s e k a b a k a be B u g a n d a (The K i n g s of B u g a n d a ) , first p u b l i s h e d in 1901; E k i t a b o Kye Ernpisa za B a g a n d a (The B o o k of the M a n n e r s of the B a g a n d a ) , f i r s t p u b l i s h e d in
1. Ashe, op . c i t . p r e f a c e
1905; E k i t a b o K y * E b i k a bya A b a g a n d a (The b o o k of the C l a n s of the B a g a n d a ) , and the B o o k of the G r a s s h o p p e r clan, w h i c h s e e m s to have b e e n b e g u n in 1893. T h e s e are K a g g w a * s
mo s t o u t s t a n d i n g h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g s . T h a t a w o r k of such size s h o u l d a p p e a r a little less tha n t h i r t y y e a r s a f t e r the L u g a n d a l a n g u a g e had b e e n c o m m i t t e d to w r i t i n g w a s no m e a n a c h i e v e m e n t on the part of K a g g w a . W h a t is c u r i o u s , h o w e v e r , is that all these b o o k s s h o u l d ha v e b e e n w r i t t e n b e t w e e n 1 9 0 0 - 1 9 1 2 , the y e a r s d u r i n g w h i c h the c o u n t r y wa s j u s t s e t t l i n g d o w n to the new C o l o n i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and w h e n K a g g w a as the P r i m e M i n i s t e r and f irst tiegent of the y o u n g king, m u s t hav e b e e n v e r y busy.
A q u e s t i o n w h i c h has o f t e n b e e n a s k e d and to w h i c h it is d i f f i c u l t to g i v e an e x a c t a n s w e r is w h y K a g g w a wrot e . On the one hand, it is i m p o r t a n t to s t r e s s that K a g g w a
h i m s e l f w a s e x t r e m e l y i n t e r e s t e d in w r i t i n g . But on the other, it is not u n r e a s o n a b l e to s u p p o s e that he w a s g r e a t l y i n f l u e n c e d b y the l i t e r a r y a t m o s p h e r e p r o v i d e d by the
m i s s i o n a r i e s a r o u n d him, suc h as J. Roscoe, it.P. Asiie,
W a l k e r and o t h e r s . The w r i t e r of the p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n was r e p e a t e d l y to l d b y K a g g w a * s family, that it w a s J o h n
R o s c o e w h o s u g g e s t e d to K a g g w a to w r i t e in L u g a n d a , w h a t he h i m s e l f w a s a l r e a d y w r i t i n g in E n g l i s h . It is w o r t h y
25
n o t i n g a l s o that it w a s m a i n l y K a g g w a w h o s u m m o n e d most, if not all the i n f o r m a n t s K o s c o e u s e d as his s o u r c e s . As these g a v e t h e i r i n f o r m a t i o n in L u g a n d a , K a g g w a p r o b a b l y t o o k it d o w n and it p r o v i d e d the b a s i s of his own w r i t i n g s . An i n t e r e s t i n g c o m p a r i s o n can in fact be m a d e b e t w e e n
K a g g w a 1s w r i t i n g s and H o s c o e ' s The B a g a n d a .* It c o n s i s t s
of a long s e c t i o n on the h i s t o r y of the kin g s , on the h i s t o r y of the c l a n s a n d t h e i r totems, and the res t of the b o o k
d e a l s w i t h e v e r y o t h e r a s p e c t of K i g a n d a s o c i e t y , m i l i t a r y , p o l i t i c a l , c u l t u r a l and social. As we have s h o w n above, K a g g w a * s w r i t i n g s a l s o deal e x a c t l y w i t h the same s u b j e c t , but o n l y in a m o r e d e t a i l e d m a n n e r . A n o t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g
c o m p a r i s o n is that The D a g a n d a was p u b l i s h e d in 1911, a n d a f t e r that da t e lioscoe c o n c l u d e d his s e r i o u s i n q u i r i e s in B u g a n d a . In 1912, K a g g w a *s Eb i k a a p p e a r e d , a n d a f t e r that date he a l s o did not do a n y mor e w r i t i n g e x c e p t for a few o c c a s i o n a l a r t i c l e s he c o n t r i b u t e d to the Kbifa, a C.M.S.
n e w s p a p e r . The E b i k a ends w i t h a c h r o n o l o g y of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t e v e n t s of the 19th c e n t u r y . O n c e the e d i t o r
of the U g a n d a J o u r n a l d r e w a t t e n t i o n to the fact that K a g g w a * s c h r o n o l o g y w a s b a s e d on that of J.l). M u l l i n * s The W o n d e r f u l S t o r y of U g a n d a w h i c h had b e e n p u b l i s h e d in 1908. 2 The
1. The B a g a n d a ( London, 1911) pp. x i x ♦ 525 + m a p s and p h o t o g r a p h s
2. J.l). M u l l i n s w a s a C.M.S. m i s s i o n a r y in U g a n d a .
2 6
e d i t o r f u r t h e r o b s e r v e d that t h o u g h the c h a r a c t e r s i n c l u d e d in the c h r o n o l o g y s h o w e d that K a g g w a * s w a s l a r g e l y an
i n d e p e n d e n t c o m p i l a t i o n , the d a t e s w e r e n e v e r t h e l e s s l i f t e d from M u l l i n ' s b o o k . * T h e s e c o m p a r i s o n s do not p r o v e that K a g g w a c o p i e d the w o r k of the m i s s i o n a r i e s , nor do they
p r o v e that all the i n i t i a t i v e to w r i t e came fr o m them.
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e y at l e ast i l l u s t r a t e the m i s s i o n a r y
i n f l u e n c e w h i c h c l e a r l y a p p e a r s in the p l a n n i n g and a r r a n g e me n t of his h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g s .
E a c h of K a g g w a fs three b o o k s s u p p l e m e n t s the other. T h i s is b e c a u s e the v i e w s e x p r e s s e d and the i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d in one b o o k are r e f e r r e d to in a n o t h e r b o o k in a s i m i l a r or d i f f e r e n t c o n t e x t . H e n c e the i n
f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d in E m p i s a , for e x a m p l e may be m o d i f i e d in D a s e k a b a k a a n d vice versa. B e c a u s e of this, no full a c c o u n t of the h i s t o r y of B u g a n d a can be m a d e w i t h o u t u s i n g m a t e r i a l fr o m all of them. B a s e k a b a k a itself, is a v o l u m e of n e a r l y 9 0 , 0 0 0 w o r d s and it is the p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e of the d y n a s t i c h i s t o r y of B u g a n d a . It r e c o u n t s the h i s t o r y of ea c h king, from K i n t u , the s u p p o s e d f o u n d e r of the d y n a s t y , to the r e i g n of Cwa I I . 4- The d e t a i l s ,
1. Ug. J. Vol. 16/2 (1952)
2. The C h a p t e r on the r e i g n of Cwa II a p p e a r s in the 1927 and s u b s e q u e n t e d i t i o n s only. But it c o v e r s o n l y the p e r i o d of the m i n o r i t y , 1 8 9 7 - 1 9 1 4 .
27
h o w e v e r , d i f f e r f r o m r e i g n to reign. The a c c o u n t s of some r e i g n s are full w h i l e those of o t h e r s are t a n t a l i - s i n g l y s h o r t a n d u n i n f o r m a t i v e . The r e i g n of K i n t u , for e x a m p l e , is r e c o r d e d at g r e a t length p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e he r e p r e s e n t e d the p e r i o d of s e t t l e m e n t . * A f t e r the r e i g n of Kirnera, (who s e ems to have i n t r o d u c e d a n e w d y n a s t y ) , there is a d e a r t h of i n f o r m a t i o n and it is not until we co m e to the r e i g n of N a k i b i n g e that the oral a c c o u n t s b e c o m e d e t a i l e d again. Fr o m this r e i g n u ntil the r eign of K a t e r e g g a , l i t t l e u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n is r e c o r d e d , but eve n a f t e r this r e i g n one still m e e t s some d i s a p p o i n t i n g gaps. Thus, the e x c e l l e n t a c c o u n t s of M a w a n d a and his
s u b j u g a t i o n of the B u s o g a States, is f o l l o w e d b y the s c r a p p y a n n a l s of the s hort r e i g n s of M w a n g a I and N a m u g a l a . Like mos t c h r o n i c l e s , B a s e k a b a k a b e c o m e s m o r e d e t a i l e d as one a p p r o a c h e s mo r e r e c e n t times. Thus the t h ree r e i g n s of
l
K a m a n y a , Suna and M u t e a s I, take up as m u c h space as the
2
p r e v i o u s t w e n t y s e v e n reigns.*- T h e r e are s e v e r a l r e a s o n s for this. I n f o r m a t i o n on the 19th c e n t u r y w a s c o l l e c t e d fro m e y e w i t n e s s e s s , a n d i n e v i t a b l y m u c h m o r e was r e m e m b e r e d on this p e r i o d tha n on any other. M o r e o v e r , as B u g a n d a
had e x p a n d e d t e r r i t o r i a l l y , so had h e r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and m i l i t a r y n e e d s b e c o m e more c o m p l e x . T h u s the lists of
1. See C h a p t e r II 2. See C h a p t e r VII
the c h i e f s are longer.
B a s e k a b a k a is not a s o u r c e of r o y a l h i s t o r y only, but a l s o of the c h i e f s and t h e i r clans. The r e i g n of each kin g is c o n c l u d e d w i t h a long list of c h i e f s and the lists b e c o m e l o n g e r as we a p p r o a c h r e c e n t t imes s u g g e s t i n g that
there had b e e n r a p i d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d m i l i t a r y e x p a n s i o n . The E m p i s a , i t s e l f is a s t u d y of the m a n n e r s and c u s t o m s of the B a g a n d a , b u t it i n c l u d e s al s o a long s e c t i o n on the h i s t o r y of the k i n g s . For e x a m p l e 66 of its 319 p a g e s are a r e p e t i t i o n of B a s e k a b a k a in a mor e or less d e t a i l e d m a nner. And the r e i g n of ea c h k i n g is c o n c l u d e d not onl y w i t h a list of c h i e f s , b u t a l s o w i t h a list of the royal wiv e s , t h e i r f a t h e r s and c l a n s and the r oyal c h i l d r e n they bore. T h e r e are a l s o d e t a i l e d s e c t i o n s on the m i l i t a r y
o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d t a x a t i o n system. K a g g w a was at his bes t w h e n he d e s c r i b e d t h ese a s p e c t s of B O g a n d a s o c i e t y . It s hould, h o w e v e r , not s u r p r i s e us that lie s h o w e d such k n o w l e d g e , b e c a u s e a M u g a n d a c h i e f w a s an a d m i n i s t r a t o r and a tax g a t h e r e r in p eace time, a n d a w a r l e a d e r in time of war. The E b i k a w a s K a g g w a *s m a j o r w o r k on the c l a n s and t h e i r h i s t o r y . The B a g a n d a are d i v i d e d into t o t e m i c clans, each one of w h i c h has its own hea d and Bu t a k a .
K a g g w a r e c o r d e d t h i r t y one clans and t w e l v e o t h e r s w h i c h
he c l a s s i f i e d as the B u d d u clans. The b o o k is full of d e t a i l s , not o n l y of the s u p p o s e d o r i g i n s of the clans, b u t a l s o on t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h the m o n a r c h y , thus
g i v i n g e v i d e n c e to the u n i q u e social and p o l i t i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s in K i g a n d a s o c i e t y . K n o w l e d g e of a c o m m o n h i s t o r y , and in some c a s e s of c o m m o n o r i g i n s , t h o u g h r e m o t e , w i t h a s i n g l e leader; a n d the p a r t i c i p a t i o n at the royal c o u r t
in the r i t u a l f u n c t i o n s at the a c c e s s i o n and d e a t h of e a c h king, g a v e the c l a n s a g r e a t sense of u n i t y . At the same time it d r e w t h e m and the m o n a r c h y c l o s e t o g e t h e r . Some c l a n s w e r e v a s t i l y l a r g e r and had g r e a t e r i n f l u e n c e at the royal c o u r t tha n ot h e r s . E v i d e n c e s u g g e s t s a l s o that
b e f o r e the 17 t h c e n t u r y the h e a d s of the c l a n s had g r e a t e r i n f l u e n c e in the a f f a i r s of the k i n g d o m , and t h e y s e e m a l s o to h a v e r e g a r d e d the k i n g m e r e l y as a p r i m u s i n t e r
pares. It w a s not u ntil the reign of M u t e b i w h o f irst s t r i p p e d t h e m of t h e i r p r i v i l e g e s , that t h e i r p o w e r s b e g a n to d e c l i n e . S u c c e s s i v e k i n g s g r a d u a l l y g a t h e r e d all the p o w e r in t h e i r hands, so that by the m i d d l e of the 19th c e n t u r y , the k i n g w a s the f o u n t a i n of all h o n o u r s and
p r i v i l e g e s .*
E a c h c l a n h a d its own m a i n B u t a k a on w h i c h it b u r i e d its d e a d and on w h i c h the h e a d of the cla n lived.
B a g a n d a clans, u n l i k e t h ose of the N i l o t e s , for e x a m p l e ,
29
1. See C h a p t e r VII
did not live in c o m m u n i t i e s . T h e y w e r e s c a t t e r e d all o v e r jMorc,
the c o u n t r y , t h o u g h some t e n d e d to c o n c e n t r a t e in c e r t a i n
A
a r e a s than in o t h e r s . T h e r e are s e v e r a l e x p l a n a t i o n s for this. One is the i n c r e a s e in p o p u l a t i o n w h i c h f o r c e d
c l a n s m e n to s p r e a d out and sett l e in o t h e r p a r t s of the c o u n t r y . In a d d i t i o n to this, we s h o u l d m e n t i o n the t e r r i t o r i a l e x p a n s i o n as a n o t h e r factor. O n c e an area had b e e n c o n q u e r e d , a M u g a n d a c h i e f w a s a p p o i n t e d to rule it. I n e v i t a b l y the c h i e f w o u l d be f o l l o w e d b y his r e l a t ives and c l a n s m e n . If he s t a y e d long e n o u g h in that area a n d had c h i l d r e n b o r n there, t hese w o u l d a l s o s e t t l e n e a r by. A n d if he d i e d in that area, it c o u l d b e c o m e a Siga of his clan. In o t h e r c a s e s some c h i e f t a i n s h i p s w e r e h e r e d i t a r y , w h i c h m e a n t that m a n y men of one cl a n s e t t l e d p e r m a n e n t l y in a p a r t i c u l a r d i s t r i c t w i t h some of t h e i r o f f s p r i n g and o t h e r c l a n s m e n . It w a s in this w a y that the c l a n s spread. By p l o t t i n g on a m a p of
B u g a n d a , the s i t e s of the v a r i o u s B u t a k a s and b y c a r e f u l l y i n v e s t i g a t i n g w h e n these w e r e founded, one can e s t a b l i s h f a i r l y a c c u r a t e l y w h e n some d i s t r i c t s b e c a m e p a r t s of B u g a n d a . We h a v e two i n t e r e s t i n g e x a m p l e s of the
C e p h a l o p u s and of the S h e e p clans. Some a n c e s t o r s of these c l a n s c l a i m to have b e e n the c o n q u e r i n g g e n e r a l s of the m o d e r n c o u n t i e s of G o m b a and B u t a m b a l a . The w r i t e r
d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g his f i e l d r e s e a r c h that all the B u t a k a in G o m b a t r a c e d t h e i r f o u n d a t i o n to K i n g K a t e r e g g a d u r i n g w h o s e r e i g n t h e s e a r e a s w e r e a n n e x e d f r o m B u n y o r o . The
o t h e r B u t a k a w h i c h e x i s t s in G o m b a is that of the G r a s s h o p p e r clan. T h e s e , h o w e v e r , do not t r a c e t h e i r o r i g i n s to the
r eign of K a t e r e g g a b u t to K i m e r a and t h e i r c l a i m is
s u p p o r t e d b y the t r a d i t i o n s of the s u r r o u n d i n g d i s t r i c t s . In Butambala a l l the m e m b e r s of the S h e e p c l a n da t e the f o u n d a t i o n of t h e i r B u t a k a to the same r e i g n of K a t e r e g g a , a n d they e m p h a t i c a l l y s t r e s s that they had no B u t a k a
in that c o u n t y b e f o r e that period. It is thus c l e a r that the e x i s t e n c e of clan B u t a k a in a d i s t r i c t can be a v e r y u s e f u l cl u e to the d a t e w h e n p a r t i c u l a r d i s t r i c t s w e r e a n n e x e d b y B u g a n d a . So far as the b o o k of the G r a s s
h o p p e r c l a n is c o n c e r n e d , it was m e r e l y a r e c o r d of the c l a n t r a d i t i o n s , a n d it w a s e v e n less d e t a i l e d than that of the L u n g f i s h c l a n w h i c h was p u b l i s h e d in 1916. But b e c a u s e of the c l a n ' s c l o s e l inks w i t h the i m m i g r a t i o n of K i m e r a , the t r a d i t i o n s of the G r a s s h o p p e r c l a n hav e a s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e . H e n c e some of the c o n c l u s i o n s r e a c h e d in C h a p t e r II h a v e b e e n b a s e d l a r g e l y on t h e s e t r a d i t i o n s .
A p r o p e r a s s e s s m e n t of K a g g w a 1s h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g s c a n n o t be m a d e w i t h o u t an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the m a n h i m s e l f . M e n t i o n of his c h a r a c t e r lias a l r e a d y b e e n made, b u t one r e q u i r e s to k n o w his r e l a t i v e s , his p o l i t i c a l a s s o c i a t e s a n d his a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s his p o l i t i c a l and
r e l i g i o u s r i v a l s . A c a r e f u l s t u d y of the a n s w e r s to t hese q u e s t i o n s s h o u l d t h r o w l ight on his m e r i t s and d e m e r i t s as a c o l l e c t o r of the K i g a n d a t r a d i t i o n s . F irst of all his h i s t o r i c a l w r i t i n g s are a l i v i n g e x a m p l e of the m a n h i m s e l f a n d a n o t a b l e t e s t i m o n y of his g r e a t i n d u s t r y and a b i l i t y . So far as his p o l i t i c s w e r e c o n c e r n e d , he
b e l o n g e d to the P r o t e s t a n t faction. In F b i k a and B a s e k a b a k a he d e s c r i b e s t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s a n d d e f e n d s t h e i r c o n d u c t
in the c r i s e s of the 1880s and 1890s. But he d i s p a r a g e s s e v e r e l y the s u p p o r t e r s of the o t h e r f a c t i o n s , C a t h o l i c and M u s l i m . M w a n g a is p o r t r a y e d as an evi l king, w h o was m i s g u i d e d b y his evil c o u n s e l l o r s . It did not o c c u r
to K a g g w a th a t M w a n g a a n d his f o l l o w e r s , w h o o p p o s e d B r i t i s h C o l o n i a l i s m , w e r e d e f e n d i n g t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n c e . T h r o u g h out the text, p a r t i c u l a r i n d i v i d u a l s are s p e c i a l l y m e n t i o n e d b y name. For i n s t a n c e , the r e a d e r is told m o r e than
a d o z e n t i m e s in the r e i g n of K a m a n y a a n d S u n a , that B u n y a was one of K i n g S e m o k o k i r o ' s K a n g a w o S * The r e a s o n for
this w o u l d a p p e a r to be that K a g g w a w a n t e d to d e m o n s t r a t e that he had d i s t i n g u i s h e d a n c e s t o r s , b e c a u s e he c l a i m s that B u n y a w a s his g r e a t g r e a t g r a n d f a t h e r .
