CHAPTER 4
LUZINGA (LUUKA) THE ACCOUNT OF MUZAYA OR NGOBI MAU
Ngobi Mau is believed to be responsible for creating Luzinga principality. Ngobi Mau, people say, was one of Mukama’s children, some, moreover, they state that he was possibly the eldest second son among Mukama’s children who came to settle in Busoga. His birth is rather obsecure and people are not sure of his birth place. What is certain is that he was Mukama’s son, and that Mukama gave him a large piece of land near the Nile. His proper name was Ngobi Mau but he was later nicknamed Muzaya because he stayed in a lonely land infested with mbwa-flies.
Most people are agreed upon the account of Mau’s coming into Busoga, Kitimbo (Bugabula) states that on his arrival in Busoga, Ngobi Mau first established himself at Luzinga. He lived there and later died there and was buried in his home at Luzinga. In his day, Luzinga was a very thinly populated area but was full of wild animals of all sorts. Most of the people in this area were Baganda who had crossed the Nile to come and settle in this part of the country. They were the people who nicknamed Ngobi Mau (‘Skins’) because Ngobi used to wear skins.
Ngobi Mau was succeeded by his son Luuka, who moved his Mbuga (chief’s home) to Mulagirire, where he lived peacefully, often hunting wild animals.
Lufuka died and was buried at Mulagirire; he was succeeded by Kabega, his eldest son. In his turn, Kabega moved his mbuga to Lwanyama, where he died and was succeeded by Galya. Galya died and was buried at Lwanyama. Kyangwa succeeded Galya and he also lived and died at Lwanyama. He was succeeded by his son Gwanotyo-Kakulu, who lived for many years before he died and was buried at Lwanyama. He was succeeded by his brother Nkofunkaire but, because Nkofunkaire was a very old man, the people were not satisfied with his accession to the throne. He was eventually replaced by his son Muzaya-Otini, who had collected an army to fight his father Nkofunkaire. Otini-Muzaya ruled for some years and after his death he was succeeded by his son KalubaMulije. Kaluba-Mulije ruled for many years and when he died, he was buried in his mbuga at Lwanyama. He was succeeded by his nephew Gwanotyo II, Isabirye’s son. Kaluba-Mulije had no children. He ruled for a short time and was overthrown by Wandira, who was not of Ngobi Mau’s lineage. This happened after the arrival of Europeans into Busoga, and it is said that they assisted Wandira to displace Kaluba—Mulije. The outcome was to deprive this area of its independence; it was made a gombolola within Bugabula and Gwanotyo was no more than a mere head of his clan.