CHAPTER 6
THE HISTORY OF ZIBONDO (BULAMOJI)
Ngambani was the son of Mukama, the king of Bunyoro. On his arrival in Busoga, Mukama had with him the following children : — Okali of Bukoli, Ibanda of Kigulu, Ngambani of Bulamogi and Unyi of Bukono. Zibondo Ngambani and Unyi were both left in Bukono after they had crossed River Mpo1ogoma into Busoga with their father, Mukama. They later roamed about the country hunting wild animals. Ngambani and Unyi were then young, strong men who enjoyed hunting as a sport. They hunted elephants and killed so many animals that their men never starved for lack of food. Besides hunting, these two young men were skilled craftsmen; they knew pottery, carpentry and many other forms of handwork.
Soon their reputation spread over the land which is now Bulamogi, across a now non-existent lake Ntakwe which then separated Bukono from Bulamogi. The people of that land heard of the wonderful things which were being done by the people who had come from Elgon. They sent some envoys to Bukono to see what these wonderful things were, Nantamu and Musosa were the envoys to Bukono and they were greatly impressed by the respect which people paid to the two young men. The outcome was to invite one of these young men to cross over into Bulamogi. Unyi encouraged his brother Ngambani to accept the invitation and followed the envoys to Bulamogi. He took with him as his counsellors: - 1. Muwoya, who looked after his cattle; 2. Twoli, Katikiro (‘minister’) to whom he gave the land of Isalo and also permitted him to possess royal drums and drummers in his mbuga; 3. Nyoro, whom he gave the area of Gadumire, part of which was later named Panyoro (‘of Bunyoro’).
The name had become Panyoro owing to the fact that ‘the initial ‘B’ had been reduced to ‘P’. Panyoro still exists up to the present day. Nyoro was Ngambani’s chief drummer. Ngambani’s other counsellor was Nankola, who was given Buinda. Ngambani and Nankola were relatives, and their children never inter-married for fear of incestuousness. But Nankola changed his clan at a later date and his new totem was ngabi (‘antelope’).
When Ngambani first, arrived in Bulamogi, he settled at Izinga, Nantamu’s area, but he later moved his mbuga to Buyuge. He made Nantamu one of his prinicipal chiefs. Nantamu’s authority prevailed over a small island at Izinga about 2 square Miles. When Nantainu died he was buried on this island, in his home of Kyabakaire. While in Bulamogi, Ngambani married a girl named Bangibasa. She gave birth to a son whom Ngambani named Nyabongo, after Ngambani’s mother, Nanyango. Then Ngambani began the task of widening his kingdom; this was a period of expansion and all chiefs without exception were busy at it. It is said that Mukama made Ngambani the paramount chief in the whole of Busoga, for other chiefs, like Wakoli and Ngobi, used to offer sacrifices to Zibondo, such as a young girl, a spear and shield, both of Kikedi make.
In return for these offerings, these chiefs received good blessings from Zibondo. This was practised for many generations until Mukunya I’s days. At that time the people of Bulamogi were known as Banyama or Banyamatoko.
Ngambani died a very old man. At the time of his death Bulamogi was still sparsely populated. He was buried in his mbuga of Buyuge, and was succeeded by his son, Nyabongo, a man entirely dedicated to cultivation. Nyabongo would wake up very early in the morning and go to work in his banana shamba. He would work all day long and his midday meal would be served in the shamba. Whoever wished to see him on any matter had to go to the shamba where he worked and, when he arrived there, Nyabongo made him work for him. Eventually the whole of Bulamogi became interested in the work and the country was consequently extensively cultivated. More people were attracted into Bulamogi from Bunyoro and Bukedi, but he had trouble with people from Bukedi, who used to kidnap his people and certain things from his country. He overcame this trouble by open battle.
Nyabongo wedded a girl who was reputed for both beauty and kindness. The name of this beautiful wife was Wamwoyo-mweru, interpreted as ‘kind hearted’. She gave birth to a son who was amed Isoba, meaning ‘one who moves with stealthy but sure steps’. Isoba was born in Buyuge mbuga where Nyabongo died at a very old age. Isoba was the successor.
After his succession to the throne, Isoba lived in his father’s mbuga of Buyuge. He had much trouble with the neighbouring chiefs because he was a very ambitious chief. He fought many battles in order to expand, and the most outstanding battIe was fought between him and Nkono Ntumba. Ntumba had crossed River Mpologoma and had encroached upon Isoba’s land as far as River Kasokwe near Kaliro.
The battle which resulted took place at Kasokwe and when the sun set that day, Isoba was the victor. Isoba fought many other battles and he is said to have come to grips with Gabula at Kagulu. As a result of the many battles, he grew old and exhausted very soon. Fortunately he had some children, one of whom, Bwoye, whose mother came from Panyoro, succeeded Isoba at his death.
Bwoye transferred his mbuga from Buyuge to Lwamboga among some rocky hills. He built another mbuga on Lubulo hill for the sole purpose of stopping Bakedi from entering his country. Strong gangs of Bakedi people used to enter Busoga and rob or kidnap people, mostly women. Situated on the top of Lubulo, Bwoye commanded a view of a large part of the countries around and could easily spot these gangs before they had time to do havoc. It is believed that between Bwoye and Mukunya I there were some other chiefs who are forgotten now., ‘‘These chiefs were : — Kige, Lubogo, Isoba II, Wandira, Wako I and many others. All thee are supposed to have ascended Zibondo’s throne each in his own day but nothing else is known about them. This obscurity reduced the number of known Zibondos. It is believed that this obscurity was due to the many battles which took place during their time. People had no freedom to digest all the historical events as they did in peaceful times. These battles are said to have occurred between the Bakedi, Gabula, Ngobi and Tabingwa.
Mukunya I succeeded one of these unknown chiefs but it was later changed and said that he was Bwoye’s successor. Like his predecessors, Mukunya I was much troubled by Bakedi, against whom he accordingly fought many battles. He also fought many battles against people to the north of Lake Kyoga. These people were Banyoro but they were popularly known as Bapakoyo. He fought very hard and nicknamed himself Nabwanda, a very fitting name which means ‘a very cunning person who can always defeat his enemies, however strong they may be’. Bwanda is the name of a kind of grass which can survive on rocky ground where no other type of grass can grow. Bwanda grass is not easily destroyed. Mukunya I thus considered himself as tough as this grass.
At a later date, Nabwanda moved his mbuga to Mpambwa where he married a woman of Nyonyi’ s clan. Her name was Nyanga. She gave birth to a boy who was named after his father. But Mukunya was a polygamist with about 450 women in each of his five mbugas. Each of these mbuga consisted of about 20—25 houses. The senior wife’s house accommodated 15 — 35 women. Most of these women were merely given to Mukunya I as presents or, perhaps offerings.
A large number of wives was a symbol of wealth; a man having many wives was counted as being very rich, it was often very easy for an able man to have a large number of women, since the first woman one married would bring all her sisters to marry her husband. When Mukunya I died, he was buried in his new mbuga of Mpambwa. Mukunya had inherited all his father’s wives, amongst whom was a woman named Nairuba, who had a son known as Wako. She had other children, Luwe, Mukunya and others.
Wako inherited his father’s toughness and cunning. He was a brave man and after his death he was buried at Mpambwa, just next to his father’s tomb. Before he died, Wako succeeded his father. He was so aware of his new position that he nicknamed himself ‘Nabuguzi bwa Ntama’ Bugula Mukira which is interpreted to mean ‘that people buy sheep just for the sake of their fat tails’. Wako believed that a good chief is one who is just and useful to his people; should a chief lack any of these qualities, he would be considered unworthy by his peop1e. Wako assumed another nickname later on. This name was ‘Fudu’ which means ‘rich’ and contented with no other ambitions’. It also means ‘every person should be contented with whatever he has and never long to get other people’s property. The name depicts the tortoise, which seems to be self-sufficient, since it moves about with its own shelter and bedding. Wako was, therefore, not anxious to expand his kingdom, or even to procure wealth in the form of women. He built a new mbuga on Wataka. Hill in Gadumire.
Wako I’s reign was a peaceful one and he was liked by all his people.
He died at an old age. Wako I’s brother Luwe should have succeeded their father, Mukunya, but because of Luwe’s cruelty, he was surpassed by his brother Wako.
The following were Mukunya I’s children:—
1. Luwe of kabwikwa
2. Mugonyi of Namulungu
3. Nyangoli of Bupyana
4. (Not recorded)
5. Musuga of Wangobo
6. Dulu of Nampingwe
7. Gwaka of Kakosi
8. Nairima of Bulirama
9. Muleju of Buyonjo
10. Kaseru of Isalo
11. Dongo-Kampere of Buyuge
12. Wako of Gadumire
13. Matende of Kyani
14. Mugaju of Nameje
15. Kakolwa of Nakaboko
16. Ntende of Nakwangala
17. Ibanda of Busambeku.
The following were Wako I’s children;
1. Muyodi Kige of Buyodi
2. Nkona of Nabigwali
3. Kaluya of Buluya
4. Mukunya of Bulumba
5. Bwoye of Bulumba
6. Nadoi of Bulumba
7. Muleju of Kisiki
8. Nkolwa of Buluya
9. Naita of Buwangala
10. Galimu of Nawampiti
11. Naluvulunguti of Kibuye
12. Nyago of Kibuye
13. Nsabagwa of Nawampiti
14. Mpaulo cf Bupeni
15. Ibanda of Nawaikoke
16. Kamanya of Bufuganyonyi
17. Mukunya of Kisinda
18. Musiba of Busulumba
19. Ikona Naigobya of Nabigwali
20. Kunya of Nsamule
21. Baga of Buyuge
22. Bamutya of Panyoro
23. Walifugani of Panyoro
24. Tentebera of Buyuge
The following were Wako I’s daughters :
1. Nyakana
2. Buya
3. Nadongo
4. Nyakato and others
The following were Kisira’s children: —
1. Isakwa of Busanda
2. Bwoye Wambuzi of Natwanda
3. Gonza Kitabanga of Kanankamba
4. Yakobo Muloki of Nabitende
5. Mutabanewani of Kanankamba
6. Makere I Kunya of Namalemba
7. Makere II Mudola of Namalemba
8. Mukunya Wambuzi of Nabitende
9. Yakobo Nkonte of Nabikoli
10. Muzinge of Nangala
11. Nabeta of Lwagalo
12. Napera of Butege
13. Napera II Wako of Butege
14. Hesa of Buguge
15. Wako of Kibwiza
16. Kiganira of Bwayuya
17. Pokino of Bwayuya
18. Kagwabi of Nawaikoke
19. Kezekiya Wako of Buluya
20. Erisa Wako of Kaliro
21. Manweri of Butesa.
22. Dongo of Butesa
23. Mupada of Wairaka
24. Kubonaku of Bwayuya
25. Kisejaki of Nakwangala
26. Polina Nyanzi of Muwala
27. Mirieri Nyanzi of Muwala
The following were Mukunya II’s children: -
1. Mukama of Bugonza
2. Ezekieri Tenywa Wako II of Kaliro
3. Saulo Wako of Kanansaike
4. Kosia Mupada of Natwana
5. C. Gerald Kisira of Gulamubiri
6. Nekemiya Kisira of Bulyakubi
7. Malyamu Nawango of Muwala
8. Maliza Balungi of Muwala
9. Eseri Kaboli of Muwala
10. Tabisa Nyanzi of Muwala.
11. Ana Buya of Muwala
12. Buya of Muwala
The following are some other family members:-
Mukunya I – Zibondo
Mukunya II – Kige, Lubogo, Isoba I, Isoba II, Mugongo, and others.
Kige – Kabinga, Wagwahensi, whose mother was Maiso of the
Namubyakala clan
Kige – Mukunya
Kige – Wamulekeire
Kige – Gumula
Kige – Gonzabato
Kige – Tu-ta, Muwala, Tibaga, Namuhyakala
The following were Mukunya Kaira:-
Isoba Kinyonyi Kaira
Mugulusi son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
Y.K. Lubogo son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
A. Kige son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
B. Isoba son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
Y. Kunya son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
N. Kunya son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya A.
W. Kisajaki son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
Wambi son of Mr. Kaira Mukunya.
Eresi - Nemuhyakala daughter of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
Nzala daughter of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
Nzala daughter of Mr. Zaira Mukunya
Ikesa daughter of Mr. KairaMukunya
Doloka Kaboyo daughter of Mr Kaira Mukunya Tyobo
daughter of Mr. Kaira Mukunya
Wako I died in 1863 and was succeeded by his son, Kisira, whose mother was Nanyanzi. Kisira succeeded to the throne at the age of 25. He had a home in Bwayuya which his father had given to him. However, when he succeeded his father, he built his new mbuga at Ikumbya, now known as Kaliro. This place later became the capital of Bulamogi county. Two reasons were responsible for the establishment of this new mbuga at Ikumbya: -
(a) There was a prince named Kige Muyodi, son of Mukunya II, who lived at Buyodi. This prince ruled over an area consisting of about 20 mitala. His region was bounded by Luuka, Kigulu and Bukono.
He was so powerful that he had assumed independence of Zibondo.
Kisira did not like this state of affairs and he fought a battle against Kige. The latter was a brave and good fighter, and Kisira’s army could not defeat him at the first attempt. Kisira had to be assisted by other brave fighters such as Kanene of Butege, Kidanga of Kanakamba and many others, before he could defeat Kige. When at last Kisira defeated Kige, the fomer took away all Kige’s lands, with the exception of Buyodi alone. In one of these mitala which Kisira confiscated from Kige, at Ikumbya, he built his new mbuga.
(b) Another reazon why Kisira built his new mbuga at Ikumbya was that this place was very near the boundary between Kigulu and Bulamogi. He wished to live near this boundary so that he could watch it against any encroachment on the part of Ngobi.
Kisira succeeded his father around 1863 and ruled for 35 years. He died after the advent of white men into Busoga. Kisira was one of the chiefs who went to Bukaleba in 1890. He took with him many porters to go and assist Mr. Grant in building his headquarters. Kisira lived at Bukaleba for the rest of his time. Kisira fought many battles against Tabingwa; these battles took place at Nantamali, Bulike and Kyamaya. In his time, Busoga had many guns which were bought from Arabs.
On one occasion, Tabingwa defeated Zibondo’s army and even burnt down his mbuga at Nawaikoke; But Zibondo later recaptured his mbuga and built a house in it which he named Kalegere, which means ‘a trap’. Kisira declared that Tabingwa would be inviting trouble to himself if he should attempt to attack that house. As a result, this house stood for years, until the time of Wambuzi. It is said that this was a magic house because it could turn into a bush when attacked by some would-be destroyers. It was a round house built in the ordinary way. In it there lived a wife named Saba, who gave birth to Prince Muzinge.
During this time there were many battles between Tabingwa, Gabula and Kisira. The first two chiefs wished to encroach upon Kisira’s kingdom. During Kisira’s times, religious wars raged in Buganda between Mohammedans and Christian Protestants. Many Mohammedan deserters sought refuge in other countries. One of them, named Ali Lwanga escaped into Busoga and besought Kisira to offer him shelter. Kisira then kept him a refugee in his mbuga of Gadumire. This is how Mohammedanism came to Bulamogi.
Kisira did not regret having admitted Ali into his country because of Ali’s new and interesting doctrine. Ali also showed the people of Bulamogi how to make soap and use it. All these things surprised the people of Bulamogi. No other religion had ever been heard of in Bulamogi before this.
Ali became Kisira’s favourite; he used to wash Kisira’s clothes and was a very good cook. Most important of all, he could speak Swahili. In those days, Swahili was the medium of communication between Europeans and African chiefs. It is easy to understand how valuable Ali Lwanga was to Kisira. Lwanga rose to a very high rank in Kisira’s house and was responsible for the needs of the Europeans as far as Kisira was concerned. Ali Lwanga was such a useful man that the D.C. eventually made him his interpreter. He was soon promoted, and became a saza chief. He ruled for many years, married hundreds of women and was a very outstanding ruler in Busoga. He was very liberal and slaughtered 6 - 7 heads of cattle for his big household everyday. Rice was a common factor in the daily diet.
During Kisira’s days, the country was very prosperous, being extensively cultivated and the population increased in density. Kisira himself encouraged cultivation by giving his people already –cultivated fields to plant whatever they wanted. This custom made people feel obliged to cultivate their areas. Kisira enforced many laws, one of which forbade people (apart from himself) from sitting on chairs. Important people and princes in Bulamogi could sit only on skins. Of all Zibondos that have been, Kisira had the largest number of daughters and sons; he gave each of his sons a piece of land for himself.
Unfortunately, Kisira contracted a new disease from one of his many wives. This new disease was Gonorrhea, which was brought into Busoga by the Sudanese troops at Bukaleba. At first the people were quite ignorant of the ways in which this disease was contracted; they thought that it was contracted by women through eating infected food; that a woman who ate such food became infected and if a man had sexual intercourse with her, he would automatically catch the disease from her. They believed that anybody wishing to contract gonorrhea needed only to collect all types of stinging insects and cook them together with the food, which would then be infected with the disease; any woman eating this food would contract the disease but she would only be a carrier. This gonorrhea-infected food was meant for women only. This same food was supposed to be prepared only by Luba’s men. However, it was soon realized that gonorrhea was a disease completely unconnected with human creation; they realised that the disease was brought by people from the Coast, such as the Arabs, Indians and Europeans.
Being such a new disease, Kisira’s physicians could not think of any medicine to cure their master. In consequence, Kisira was victimized by the disease and died on 18 September, 1898 at Bukaleba, but his body was taken to Kaliro where he was buried.
Mukunya, later widely known as Wambuzi, was chosen to succeed his father. Before his actual succession to the throne, there were some princes and ministers who strongly objected to it. Many of them favoured Namuyonjo and a few wanted Musiba to succeed, but owing to the efforts of minister Nsembesa and other notable men, such as Kanene and Telenga, Wambuzi was the successor eventually. He was confirmed as such on 5 October, 1898.
Once on the throne, Wambuzi was anxious to punish those chiefs who had objected to his succession. He accordingly collected a group of loyal and strong young men to help him subdue the rebels. He put all his trust in young men, whom he lavishly entertained in his mbuga daily. He allowed them so much freedom that they assumed power to do anything; they could arrest princes or confiscate any person’s property without any reason. The whole country was at the mercy of these young men.
Wambuzi himself stayed most of his time at the headquarters, first at Bukaleba, later at Iganga and finally at Jinja. The most deadly famine, which was known as ‘Mugudya’, took place during Wambuzi’s rule, round about 1899 - 1900. Many people died during this famine. Wambuzi had kept all Zibondo’s mbugas, each of which was full of women but the effect of the famine was to reduce the density of the population in 1l quarters. Many people left the country and migrated to other parts of Busoga. Most of them migrated to Bugabula, Bukona, Busiki and Kigulu.
The rough behaviour of the young men in Bugabula also contributed to the migration. These men had no respect for any man other than Wambuzi; they even went further and robbed the fatted cows and goats which were meant for offerings to the gods.
Wambuzi was a strongly spirited man and was not easily frightened by anything. On one occasion he defied the Government by arresting its policemen, whom he stripped of their uniforms and even flogged them soundly. Wambuzi was not afraid of the bitter consequencies. News of this cruel behaviour was heard in Jinja by Mr. Grant (this was in 1906). Grant had already had evidence of other crimes against Wambuzi and he was not impressed by that chief’s inability to maintain freedom. He accordingly dispatched a man named Serwano Twasenga to displace Wambuzi whom Grant put into exile in Bukedi, at Kokolo, in 1907. The Government regarded Wambuzi as a dangerous man who deserved exile. Wabuzi stayed in exile for only one year and is said to have died in 1908 of gonorrhea.
After the deportation of Wambuzi, his son Ezekieri Wako, who was at school at Mengo High, succeeded him. E. Wako did not begin ruling Bulamogi until April 1914 on completion of his education in King’s College, Budo. S. Twasenga was appointed by the Government to rule Bulamogi as regent.. He was Wako I’s son but he, together with his friend. Nikola Tega, denied their tribe, Busoga and regarded themselves as Baganda. N. Tega first came to Busoga from Buganda with Miro Ngobi, brother of S. Twasenga. N. Tega had been given a big post in Kigulu and, in his turn, recomended S. Twasenga for the post of Bulamogi.
S. Twasenga was regent in Bulamogi from 1907 and worked very well. He endeavoured to convert his people to Christianity and to educate them. During his regency many Churches and Mosques were built all over the country and many missionaries came to Bulamogi as a result. At one time, S. Twasenga was fined about shs. 100 by the Government for having built so many churches in the country. He was a staunch Christian, liked by everybody. However he economised his property to the point of being a miser, although he was a very rich man. He was not a great meat eater. He was a strong ruler who never spared the rod in dealing with subchiefs who mis-behaved, and could order his men to flog any offender mercilessly, almost to death.
The famine which was known as ‘Mutama’ occurred in S. Twasenga’s time. The Government tried to provide relief but many people still died. Ezekieri Wako II had been chosen to succeed his father Wambuzi because Wako was the only educated man. The old order had changed, and only educated men could be chosen as chiefs. The Government, therefore, encouraged every chief to educate, at least, his first son who would succeed him. Wambuzi had sent his son Mukama to school but, because Wambuzi loved him so much, he recalled him from school and sent E. Wako in Mukama’s place. Wako’s mother was Alikumusuta. E. Wako was first given to a missionary named Rev. T.R. Burckley, who educated him at Iganga. Later Wako entered Mengo High School which was eventually transferred to Budo as King’s College, Budo. He stayed at Budo from 1911 to 1914. In April 1914 he was confirmed as Ssaza Chief of Bulamogi, and S. Twasenga was made deputy Ssaza Chief. E. Wako did not depart from S. Twasenga’s methods of ruling although he had many influential young men around him, some of whom he appointed as Gombolola chiefs.
HRH. Ezekiel Wako, the first Kyabazinga of Busoga 1893 - 1982 At the beginning of E. Wako’s rule, many people had migrated from Bulamogi and were still doing so owing to the mischievousness of the newly appointed young Gombolola chiefs. However, most of his people had been converted to Christianity and they respected their chief very much as if he were a king. He built many schools and churches. He married Yunia Nakibandi, daughter of Mutakubwa, Ssaza Chief of Busiki, in October l915.
His outstanding ability as a ruler was recognised by the Governmnent, who appointed him President of Busoga in January 1919. At that time Mr. Postlethwaite was D.C. and Mr. F. Spire was the P.C. Eastern Province. E Wako was the first Musoga to rule a united Busoga. Another man who had ruled Busoga as a whole was Semei Kakungulu, a Muganda, who was taken to Bukedi . Busoga had received a Lukiiko which was run on a monthly basis by the Ssaza chiefs. The Ssaza chief on duty used to hear all cases and issue orders from the D.C. The order of things was abolished in favour of a President. As it has been stated before, E. Wako was appointed the first president of the Busoga Lukiiko (Native Council). On the whole, the people of Busoga did not object to having a paramount chief but they were not pleased with an European title. As a result, this title was agreeably changed to ‘Kyabazinga’, which may be interpreted as ‘One paramount chief having authority over all the other chiefs’. This was only after much petitioning and patient waiting by the people before the Government approved the change.
Mukunya II succeeded Yowasi Nyiro, son of Prince Mukunya Wambuzi of Natwana. Mukunya II lived in M. Wambuzi’s mbuga of Natwana and cared for Wambuzi’s children. When Mukunya became Zibondo, all these children automatically became roya1 children. Y. Nyiro had been a prince and Gombolola chief of Nansololo but when E. Wako appointed P.B.L he in his turn, appointed Y. Nyiro Ssaza Chief of Bulamogi in June 1921.
Yowasi Nyiro was small in stature and very shy, he was shy to the point of being timid, which badly affected his ability to rule as he was never strict with offenders or criminals. He was not talkative but enjoyed listening to others talking. He was consequently demoted for his inefficiency, due to the cunning of his clerk, to whom he had entrusted all responsibility concerning poll tax collection. The clerk’s name was Yairo and he misappropriated the poll tax money bit by bit. Bwoye made use of the confidence which the people had in him. They used to entrust him with their own money and Bwoye did not hesitate to put it to his own personal use. As a result he became very rich and feasted daily. His property surpassed any of the Ssaza chiefs’ in Busoga but the Ssaza chief, who did not understand much, could not realize how his clerk, who earned a monthly pay of Shs. 50, could be so rich. Although Y. Nyiro was once directly warned about his clerk’s thieving nature, he did not believe it simply because he feared annoying him.
Like his people, Y. Nyiro put much trust in Y. Bwoye. Y. Nyiro’s fall came when the D.C., Mr. Sullivan, ordered a return of poll tax tickets for checking in May 1924. The clerk could not balance his account book. The Ssaza chief was obliged to arrest his clerk and investigate the matter. It was discovered that he had stolen over shs 350,000 from the poll tax money alone. The matter was handed over to Captain F. Roberts, Suppretendant of Police, Jinja. Y. Bwoye was found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ imprisomnent. The Ssaza Chief was also dismissed on 5 October, 1924.
Y. Nyiro died within five days of his dismissal, on 9 October, 1924, in his small house of Bugembe where he was staying during the hearing of his case. He died of gonorrhea; his body was carried to Bulamogi and buried at Natwana. His son, Semu Bwoye, inherited his property. E. Wako then considered very carefully before he chose anybody to replace Nyiro.
He eventually appointed Yekonia Kaira Lubogo to the post of Ssaza Chief, Bulamogi. Y.K. Lubogo was a son of Mukunya, who was nicknamed ‘Kaira’ because he was a very mischievous person. Kaira was the son of Kige, whose father was Mukunya Luwe, the brother of Wako I. Mukunya Luwe should have succeeded to the Zibondoship but for his disagreeable behaviour; he used to murder people just for pleasure and this was why Wako was preferred by the people.
Y.K. Lubogo was made Zibondo on 4 December, 1924. He was educated in the normal school, C.M.S. Namirembe, from 1912 to 1913. He began teaching in the dayschool at Kamuli in 1914. Later he joined King’s College, Budo, where he stayed for three years, 1915 - 1917. In May 1917 he joined the Native Medical Corps, where he was promoted to the rank of corporal after two years’ service. In February 1919 he became the D.C.’s interpreter at Jinja and served for three years. In 1921 he was appointed Gombolola Chief, Mut. I in Luuka. In 1924 he was made Zibondo and in March 1928, Y.K. Lubogo visited the following countries: Great Britain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Egypt and the Anglo-Egyptian Suda