CHAPTER 9
TABINGWA’S LINEAGE (LUUKA)
It is said that long ago there lived a man known as Kigenyi somewhere in the mountainous country of Elgon. He had a son and daughter known as Mukama and Naudo respectively. Once Mukama found his favourite pipe broken to pieces and immediately blamed Naudo, accusing her before their father, Kigenyi. Kigenyi looked into the matter carefully and found that Naudo did not actually break Mukama’s pipe. The case was, therefore, decided in Naudo’s favour. Mukama was so frustrated by the outcome that he decided to run away from Kigenyi and Naudo and wander about wherever he pleased.
At the beginning of his wanderings, Mukama had a number of followers. Among them were Kitandwe, Musoko and Nabala (Mukama’s wife). He travelled in a westerly direction.
The majority of narrators state that Mukama originally came from Elgon but they do not claim to know his actual birthplace nor his parentage. However, it is stated that Mukama had with him two dogs, a wife and some followers. Nobody knew the reason for Mukama’s travels. He first landed at Bufuta in Bukoli, and then travelled to Buyonga via, a hill known as Busoga. At Buyonga the inhabitants begged him to stay and rule them but Mukama refused and only asked them to follow him, in the hope that he might have a son whom he could give to them as ruler.
The Buyonga inhabitants accepted the offer and followed him; the members of Igaga clan at Nyenda claim to have come from these Buyonga inhabitants.
Mukama travelled along the northern shore with a big following and eventually came to a place known as Busoga. This place is still worshipped and offerings given. The place is in Butembe and very near Jinja. From here Mukama travelled along the shores of the River Nile, via Buzaya to Kakindu, from where he crossed the Nile into Bunyoro (Bugerere) which is now part of Buganda. In the course of his journey Mukama came to a small river which separates Buganda from Bunyoro. Here his wife gave birth to son whom he named Ngobi. With the birth of Ngobi came the fufilment of Mukama’s promise. He chose a few of his followers to take his a son, Ngobi, back to Busoga where he was to rule. Mukama then continued his journey to Bunyoro, where he lived until his death. He often sent presents to his children, such as stools, spears and shields which were needed for customary ceremonies.
To accompany Ngobi, Mukama sent two of his wives who were pregnant, and he instructed his men that in the event of Ngobi’s death, one of the expected children should succeed him. Ngobi’s party, which was headed by Muingo, crossed back into Busoga at Kakindu, in Bugabula. They travelled to Nyenda where Igaga lived. Here Ngobi was brought up, and the two wives both gave birth to sons. Ngobi ruled the central part of Busoga, but Luuka, Bulamogi, and Busiki were all included in his jurisdiction. Of the remainder, the north-western portion of the country was placed under the rule of Muzaya, while another portion was given to Kitimbo. These two were the Sons born at Nyenda. The south, Southwest and eastern parts of the country were between members of Njaza clan and other clans.
At the beginning of Ngobi’s rule his country was practically uninhabited, apart from himself and his followers. Ngobi took to hunting, and surveyed much of his country on his hunting tours. Gradually, people migrated into Ngobi’s country from the south. Some people came from Bukedi and settled in Ngobi’s country. In those days people were invariably dressed in skins.
Their chief food was millet and sorghum, which were introduced into the country by Mukama. Matooke (bananas) were introdued into Busoga from Bugishu at a much later date. The idea of bark cloth was brought in from the north.
It is said that at one stage of his existence Ngobi travelled to Walibo where he built an mbuga and lived there for some years, before returning to Nyenda. Ngobi lived for many years and died at an old age. He had many children whose names are not known. It is alleged by some people that one of them was Nyiro or Tabingwa, and that some of the rest were Zibondo, Nkono and Izimba. Before his death, Ngobi divided his country between his children. He gave Bulamogi to Zibondo, who was found of hunting, Bukono to Nkono and Nyiro was given Luuka. Izimba succeeded his father Ngobi.
Having been given Luuka, Nyiro permanently established himself at Kiroba Hill and became a reknowned hunter. At Kiroba Nyiro’s son, Inyensiko Serwanga Idondo, was born, and Nyiro himself died and was buried there.
Inyensiko succeeded his father. He was a restless young man and he consequently fought many battles against his neighbours whom he wanted to dominate. He soon died and was buried at Kiroba. He was succeeded by his son Wambuzi I, who transferred his mbuga to Kiyunga. Although Wambuzi fought many battles, he was a great cultivator. He cultivated a big shamba of bananas at Nankongolo. He was buried at Kiroba.
Kakuku succeeded his father Wambuzi. The country was peaceful during his day but he was himself put to death in Buganda during the reign of Suna. Kalogo succeeded his brother Kakuku, but he was soon murdered by Baganda at Buluba.
He was succeeded by his brother Kibalya. He had a bitter hatred for Kakuku’s advisers, whom he persecuted. People disliked him for that, and made a plan to oust him. They kidnapped Kakuku’s son, Mujjungu, who was living in Zibondo’s mbuga and carried him to the Kabaka of Buganda for appointment. The Kabaka sanctioned Mujjungu to rule the northern half of Kibalya’s country. The latter protested and a bloody battle ensued. When Kibalya went to plead to Mutesa in Buganda, he was killed and Mujjungu became the ruler.
Mujjungu had to fight many battles against Kibalya’s son, Wambuzi, who often enlisted the assistance of some Baganda. The result was that Mujjungu and Wambuzi both presented their case to the Kabaka of Buganda. While in Buganda, Wambuzi fell ill and died. Mujjungu then returned to his country and ruled peacefully until his death. He was succeeded by his son, Nabwana Inyensiko II, a very cruel fighter in his days.
Inyensiko had about 500 guns in his country, and the Europeans were stationed at Bukaleba. Even before his father’s death, Inyensiko fought a battle against the people of Buima, and named himself Tabingwa (‘invincible’). He contracted a terrible form of gonorrhea and was consequently unable to rule. He therefore yielded his position to his son. Nabwana had tried and failed to subdue Zibondo and Gabula.
Mujjungu II Wanzu ruled for only a year and died. He was succeeded by his nephew, Gidion Wambuzi II, who was educated at Mengo High School and King’s School, Budo, which he left in December 1916 and became chief. After a short period of rule, he was dismissed because he was unfit, and was replaced by his brother Salimu Isiko.
Salimu Isiko was made chief in 1919 and was dismissed in 1926 because he misappropriated the country’s finance. The Busoga Lukiko then voted Zefaniya Nabikamba, the son of Nabwana’s Katikiro, to replace Isiko.
He was educated at Mengo High School and at King’s College, Budo. After the completion of his education, Nabikamba first ruled a gombolola in Bugweri and was later transferred to Bulamogi. His father was Nuwa Mwanga, Nabwana’s Katikiro and a very brave fighter.