CHAPTER 10
THE HISTORY OF BUGWERI (KAKAIRE AND OKALI)
It is stated by some people that Mukama of Bunyoro had a son known by the name of Magola. Prince Magola had a wife who gave birth to a son named Kakaire, who was brought up with a number of Mukama’s sons, Okali and Ngobi Lugwa, to mention just a few. It is also alleged that Kakaire was the eldest and most brilliant of them all. Mukama had a daughter named Kitimbo who was of Kakaire’s age. However, a large number of people of Bugweri strongly object to the allegation that Kakaire was merely Mukama’s grandson; on the contrary they maintain that he was really Mukama’s son and that Magola Kakaire’s son who was born in Busoga. That far from being a mere son, Kakaire was a married man.
Kakaire and his wife, together with two of his brothers and his sister (a total of five people) once decided to leave Bunyoro and go to settle in Busoga. Their father Mukama gave them permission to go and even allowed them to found a kingdom for themselves. By this time many of their brothers were already established in their kingdoms.
When the group of five left Bunyoro, they travelled towards Kigulu, in the middle of Busoga. They traversed the country of Bugweri and arrived at a place known as Wangobo in Bukoli. They changed this name to Kitukiro (‘landing-place’), and established a home here where they lived for a long time. The country at large was scarcely inhabited and so the princes fell to hunting wild animals. In addition to hunting, they extensively cultivated their area. Later on they decided to migrate from this place to an attractive hilly country to the northern shore of Lake Victoria. These princes were great lovers of hilly country. They travelled to a place known as Bukowe from where Okali sighted the hills of Bukoli; they were Namakoko, Luwalambogo and Busoga Hills. He accordingly took a fancy to them and asked his elder brother Kakaire to give him leave to go and see them.
Having been given leave, Okali left for the distant hills with his own followers. He arrived at a place known as Kigobero, where he stayed for some time and took to hunting. Okali and his followers had many dogs which assisted them in hunting. After some time Okali sent for his sister from Kakaire’s place to come and help him with the cooking. Kitimbo met her brother at Kisimbiro where he subsequently settled and built his mbuga.
After a short time, however, Okali resumed his wanderings, taking his sister with him. They arrived at Namakoko, where Okali incestuously had sexual intercourse with his sister Kitimbo and she became pregnant. News of this was brought to Kakaire who, as a result, became furious and conceived a bitter hatred for Okali. Notwithstanding the circumstances, Okali offered to pay a friendly visit to his brother Kakaire at Bukowe. Kakaire could not bear such an insult, so he collected a big army which he stationed in the valley of the River Kituto to stop the approach of his sinful brother. When news of these precautionary measures became known to Okali, he cancelled his visit but sent his men to fetch banana leaves for him from his brother’s mbuga. Kakaire was so angry that he did not spare them (Okali’s men); he ordered his army to arrest them to put them to death immediately, which they did.
The result was that the two brothers became bitter enemies, avoiding each other for the rest of their lives; however, their grandchildren began intermarrying without any knowledge of this.
The fetching of banana leaves from Bugweri to mark the death of an important ruler in Bukoli became a tradition. When a ruler died, special people were sent to fetch banana leaves from Bugweri before the dead man’s son could succeed his father. Following Kakaire’s act, these special people would be customarily put to death so that the new ruler might be blessed. This custom was practised until the time of Musitwa Wakoli, who succeeded Mutanda in about 1899, since when it stopped.
Kitimbo gave birth to a daughter who was named Kagoya, which is interpreted to mean ‘one who sined against the customs of the clan’. This name still exists as the most popular one for all Bakoli princesses (‘bambejja’) up to this day.
On their way from Bukoli, the three princes had followers, altogether; of these, Kakaire retained most, and the two brothers took a few each. The following are the names of some of the followers who remained in Kakaire’s mbuga: -
1. Mukuve, the master of ceremonies in Kakaire’s mbuga.
2. Nalwenyi, of Ngobi clan, and Mukuve’s elder.
3. Mupupi, of Ntuga clan.
4. Musubo, of Nyonyi clan, who was entrusted with the well-being of all Mukama’s children in Busoga.
It is believed that Bukoli was a fairly densely populated area and the chief among these people was one named Naminya. This man was believed to be a sacred being and, as such, he was often worshipped by his people. Around his throne were put some very sharp points on which his worshippers invariably knelt; this kneeling symbolised sincere faith and loyalty. Anybody who hesitated to display such immediately fell a victim to a speedy death.
Kakaire lived peacefully in his mbuga of Bukowe. Before he settled down at Bukowe, Kakaire had journeyed to the following parts of the country: - Insozi-ibiri, which was the second place he visited from Wangobo when he was still with his brother Okali; Idudu, where they spent a night; Mbulamuti. From here they went on to Bukowe where Kakaire established his mbuga Nabuyanja.
While in his mbuga Nabuyanja, Kakaire married many wives and had several children, some of whom are:-
Kirunda; Kiswiriri; Nyende; Mulondo Menya; Kibedi; whose mother was known as Nakaziba Koteka; Lubogo and Njoga.
During Kakaire’s time, there came into his country people of the Nyonyi clan who came from Nanyumba’s country, Bunyuli, to the north and across the River Mpologoma. These people came purposely to annex Bugweri to their kingdom. Accordingly, they fought a battle against Kakaire, who defeated them and drove them back to their country but some of them returned to Bugweri later to settle peacefully and Kakaire assigned the mutala Kalalu to them. Their head was Musubo, from whom the Musubo clan originated. It is still in existence, mainly in their village of Kalalu.
One day Kakaire decided to go to Wangobo and improve his mbuga there. As soon as he arrived there he fell seriously ill and died suddenly. His people decided to bury him there in honour of his first home. They made a very deep grave for his body, which they wrapped in wonderful barkcloth, and then gently lowered it into the deep tomb. They left the grave uncovered until they could get all the things necessary for the burial ceremonies from Bunyoro. Three days passed and the grave was still uncovered. On the fourth day, as the people were crowded along the edge of the grave, lamenting and wailing for their dead master, the sky suddenly darkened with thick black clouds; strong winds blew, making trees squeak mournfully, and great clouds of dust flew up into the air, blinding the people, who could hear nothing. At last the storm calmed down: and the people were able to look around. To their dismay and great astonishment, they saw nothing of the dead body - it had disappeared during the storm.
This discovery not only bewildered them more but also increased their bereavement. After eight days a large stone was found properly laid in the grave in place of the body which had disappeared. This stone can still be seen as a large rock. The amazing disappearance of the body affected the people of Bugweri so much that they decided against burying any of their dead chiefs at Wangobo. Bukowe and later Mulanga became the royal burial places.
Kiswiriri succeeded his father Kakaire. By this time the whole of Bugweri had been shared amongst the princes(’Babito’), Kakaire’s children: -
Kirunda was given Nondwe and Namavundu, Nyende was given Buyende, Kiswiriri was given the mutala which is now known as Biswiriri, Menya Kibedi, who inherited Kakaire’s property and was given Butende, Ibako, Nawansega, Mulanga, Ibulanku and Bulange. Koteka was given the present mutala of Bukoteka, Kasinda was given the present mutala of Businda, Njoga was given the present mutala of Buyoga, Lubogo was given the present Mutala of Busesa. Thus by the time of his death, Kakaire had divided his country between his sons. During Kiswiriri’s reign, the country was peaceful; everybody was busy cultivating his own area and hunting wild animals for meat. When Kiswiriri died, his brothers wished to take the throne from his children and a bitter struggle ensued because each of the former wished to become the successor. At last they all agreed that one of them, Kirunda, should succeed. Kirunda thus succeeded his brother, Kiswiriri. Nyende succeeded his brother Kirunda. He was agood ruler, much liked by his people.
Menya Kibedi succeeded his brother Nyende when he died. Starting from this ruler, Menya , ‘Menya’ became the official title of the rulers of Bugweri and has been handed down to the present day. The meaning of this name ‘Menya’ is not very clear although it actually means ‘to break’. May be this Menya Kibedi broke something which earned him this nickname. However, he lived for many years and had many children who filled Bugweri. He became so old that he was unable to walk. When he wished to go to the meeting-place he had to be carried on the hide of a cow. He died at last, having done no memorable deeds.
He was succeeded by his brother Mulondo, but some elders in Bugweri maintain that Mulondo succeeded Nyende long before Menya Kibedi ascended to the throne, and that after Menya Kibedi’s death, his son Nalugoda succeeded to the throne.
Nalugoda thus succeeded his father, Menya Kibedi. Nalugoda’s mother was Namusobya. When Nalugoda died, he was succeeded by his brother Wanume.
Wanume’s mother was Namuwaya. He was not particularly interested in ruling his country Bugweri and as such, therefore, cut it into halves. One half, Buyende, was made into a Ssaza and given to the sons of Nyende. He kept the other half for himself. The new counties were known as Buyende and Bugweri respectively. Later on the country was further sub divided into four small counties:
1. Bufulutu ruled by Kiyuba
2. Bukaserike ruled by Lwalanda, son of Nalugoda
3. Buyende ruled by Obira Omomulo, son of Obira Matama
4. Naigombwa ruled by Lugoja, son of Wanume
With the passing of time however, all these divisions were joined together to form one single Ssaza as it is now. Obira, whose other name was Byenge-bito, succeeded his brother, Wanume, and his authority extended as far as the River Kitumbezi.
After his death, Obira was succeeded by his brother, Mbani, who ruled for only a short time and died. He was succeeded by his son, KiringaWaigulu. During his rule the country was unsettled and there was much fighting between the people among themselves.
Kiringa-Waigulu was succeeded by Wangubo. Some people state that Wangubo was Menya-Kibedi’s son but this is not true; Wangubo was Menya-Kibedi’s grandson. It is said that immediately after Wangubo’ succession to the throne Suna, Kabaka of Buganda, despatched an army to Busoga and this army murdered Wangubo. This was about 1840. Nkutu succeeded his father, Wangubo. Nkutu was a strong, lively young man. Despite his lively nature, he met the same fate as his father; he was killed by some Baganda warriors in 1873 in a battle. Kaira was the general in charge of the invaders.
Nkutu was responsible for the unification of Bugweri which had been subdivided into small parts. Nkutu was succeeded by his son, Ntengwe, but Kijuba Ntengwe’s brothers were jealous of his position. Kijuba therefore collected a big army and ousted his brother by force after three months’ rule.
Having done this, Kijuba ruled for many years. Again Bugweri was subdivided into the original four parts, viz: - Bufulutu, Bukasenke, Buyende and Naigombwa. Each of these four parts was independent, having its own hereditary chiefs. Before long it was found that these small divisions could not remain independent for very long and, as soon as Menya Nkola succeeded to the chieftainship, he combined Bukasenke and Bufulutu.
During Kiyuba’s time, Arabs (who were known as Abalungana) arrived in Bugweri. They called on Kiyuba and sold him some of their things, such as cloths of various colours or shades, and beads. At this time there was much fighting in Bugweri; some Europeans were travelling along the north of the country. This was the time when Bishop Hannington was killed while he was staying at Bukaleba with Luba. Luba was afraid to let the Bishop proceed to Buganda without the Kabaka’s knowledge so he sent word to the Kabaka, who quickly sent some warriors to come and kill him. The Bishop was murdered in October 1885.
Bukaleba Palace and Fort - Thurston
The place where Bishop Hannington was killed.
Some time after the death of Bishop Hannington, a number of Germans arrived in Busoga, in 1889. By this time Kaunye was the Wakoli of Bukoli, and terrible battles raged all over the country. Busoga suffered many invasions by the Baganda warriors; two of these invasions were headed by Kago and Namutwe. The most outstanding of them all was the one led by Wakku and the battle which resulted was known as Mupere. This battle was fought expressly to re-instate Nyiro, who had been in captivity for 13 years, from 1879 — 92. At this time it is said that a certain European travelled through Busoga on his way to Buganda but his name is not known. His Kisoga name was Lidi. Kiyuba died in 1893 and was buried at Mulanga.
Kiyuba was succeeded by his son, Naigambi. During his time the country was not troubled by invaders; moreover, Naigambi prevented his people from going to Buganda. Furthermore, most people were by this time engaged in building the fort at Bukaleba, where they received their pay in the form of beads. This fort belonged to the Germans but as soon as it was ready, Mr. Grant advanced from Samya and his arrival in Busoga frightened the Germans, who immediately deserted their fort. Thus the fort at Bukaleba fell into the hands of the English. Mr. Grant remained in this fort and worked as the District Commissioner of Busoga. He upheld the law which prevented people from, going to Buganda. In addition to this, he ordered all the Ssaza chiefs in Busoga to assemble at Bukaleba to assist in the completion of the fort. He founded a council which united all the counties. Mr. Grant was the chairman of the council and all the chiefs were
Bukaleba Palace members. Later on, one of the chiefs was elected chairman of the council. This council was first established in l893 and every chief was obliged to have an mbuga at Bukaleba on Mr. Grant’s’ orders. Later on the saza chiefs ordered any of the princes in their countries who had authority over a number of people to build a house at Bukaleba. The result was that Bukaleba became a thickly populated area with many mushroom shaped houses. The fort itself was close to the lake but the chief’s houses were situated on the hill. Between the fort and the hill there was a sandy waste. Next to the fort there was a market-place. The fort itself was surrounded by a very deep trench; entrance into the fort was along a wooden bridge. Grant tried to bring peace to the country by stopping robbery or any unjust dealings among the people.
Naigambi died in 1896, Munulo succeeded his father, Naigambi, in 1896. Immediately after his succession, Munulo was converted to Islam, and, as a result, he became a very proud ruler. He was found of hunting but he disagreed with his brothers whom he dispossessed of their areas and even set their mbugas on fire. Worse still, he disobeyed Mr. Grant’s rules and orders.
The offended brothers accused him before Mr. Grant at Bukaleba; the result was that Munulo was arrested and cast into prison at Bukaleba; this was in the year 1897. While he was serving his sentence the Nubian troops under Macdonald and Jackson in Kenya rose in rebellion, and came to Bukaleba. At this time the fort was in charge of Mr. Thruston, who applied to Luba for an army to fight against the Nubian rebels. There were two other Europeans at Bukaleba, Mr. Norman Wilson and Mr. Scott, who was responsible for the sailing ship on the lake. The rebels were very tough fighters but they were at last overcome by Mr. Macdonald’s army which was mainly composed of Basoga fighters. However, the night following their arrival in Bukaleba, the Nubians killed three Europeans, two of whom were Mr. Thruston and Mr. Scott.
In January 1898 a big army of troops mounted on horseback arrived from Mombasa and a terrible war raged against the Nubians. Capt. Harrison was in charge of the mounted army, along with Capt. Austin. Before they arrived, the Nubians had caused much havoc in the place; they robbed anything they could lay their hand on; they released the prisoners and murdered people. Amongst those murdered were Major Macdonald and Mr. Pilkington of the C.M.S., who was engaged in translating certain books in the Lusoga language.
Having captured the fort, the Nubians promised all the prisoners freedom if they would fight on the rebels’ side. They promised to make Munulo King of Busoga in return for his assistance with his own army. Munulo at once agreed to fight on the Nubians’ side; in fact all the prisoners and all Mohnmedan converts fought for the Nubians. When the battle was at its height, however, Munulo, together with Nabuso, deserted and returned to Bugweri. When the Nubians escaped to Bunyoro, Munulo and five other people, Nabuso, Kifujwa, S. Bwagu and Y. Luzige, who had fought on the side of the rebels, were arrested and taken to Entebbe where they were imprisoned. Nabuso and Kifujwa were both condemned to death and were shot. Munulo was exiled to Nairobi, where he died.
Nkolo was appointed to replace his nephew, Munulo. Nkolo was the son of Kiyuba, father of Naigambi who was Munulo father. Nkolo proved to be a very bad and inefficient ruler. He had many servants whom he used to order to go and rob people’s property. In addition, he used to inflict heavy fines on his chiefs. These things made him hated by everybody. During his reign, a poll tax of shs 6 was being imposed on every man aged 18 and above throughout Busoga. This poll tax was collected annually for the Protectorate Government, and it was first collected in 1904. There was also a tax on arms; whoever owned a gun paid a tax of shs 6 every year. All these taxes made life difficult for the people since, in those days, there was no trade and finance was scarce. People could not even find employment with which to earn money. The only things which a few people could afford to sell for cash were goats, cattle and chillies. People’s needs were very limited so that, once a person had the money for poll tax, his worries were over for that year.
Some generous chiefs would pay poll tax for some of their men who were in real difficulties; these men would repay the chiefs back in time. The chiefs did this simply because their men had no real ways in which they could get money for the poll tax. At this time the names of the men who were eligible for paying poll tax were not all registered as yet.
Nkolo collected rupees (shs 600) as poll tax paid by his men. Without hesitation or fear, he made use of all this money for his own ends. The Government at once took steps and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment, as well as dismissing him from office towards the end of 1907.
At the time of his dismissal, Nkolo had united all the four small Ssazas within Bugweri. This was done between 1897 - 1906. Menya Nkolo’s unifying activities were most effective in the areas of Bufulutu, Bukasenke and Naigombwa.
In 1907, both the Busoga Lukiiko and the Protectorate Government agreed to appoint Nuwa Mwanga, Tabingwa’s Katikiro to the office of Menya in Bugweri. N. Mwanga was a brave man who never connived at evil-doings. He was not of the Menya clan; he belonged to the Baisembwe clan which originated in Bunyuli, Nanyumba’s country.
Having been appointed to this office, N. Mwanga, or Muziramulungi (the brave) as he was known, ruled Bugweri quite efficiently. However, the population in that country diminished, owing to sleeping sickness and to the presence of large number of wild animals which used to kill people. Nevertheless, with the help of his own sons, N. Mwanga promoted good governace work in Bugweri. Among these helpful sons of his was one named Zefania Nabikamba, who later became the Ssaza chief, Tabingwa of Luuka. The others were Kakuma and Kosia Mukasa, the young ones who did useful work without being instructed to by their father.
Throughout his life time, N. Mwanga was a very difficult man to understand; he never liked to harm anybody or to see any one in pain. Whenever he saw anybody in need, he would promise everything, even if the promise was beyond his ability to fufill. He would ask somebody to wait for food or tea even though these things were not ready at the time. He did this merely to please his people. N. M. Muziramulungi ruled Bugweri for twelve years until 1919. After his retirement, Yekonia Menya Nyende of Kakaire’s lineage came into office. N. Mwanga went back to his native country of Luuka; he was a very old man by then.
Yekonia Zirabamuzaale, Nyende’s grandson, was made heir to his forefather’s chieftainship in April 1919, when he was appointed Ssaza chief of Bugweri. Before this, Y.M Zirabamuzaale was a boy servant of B. Bafirawala, whom he served very satisfactorily. While in B.
Bafirawala’s home, Y.N.M Zirabamuzaale joined the Iganga Day School, C.M.S. Later he was trained as a teacher. After a time, when it was seen that he had mastered his studies well, we was employed by N.
Tega, the acting Ssaza Chief of Kigulu, as his clerk and house boy. During this time Y.M. Zirabamuzaale showed competence and fitness. These qualitities did not escape the sharp observation of the D.C, Mr. Jervoince, who immediately took Y.M. Zirabamuzaale to his office at Jinja and made him his interpreter. Zirabamuzaale could now speak some English, which he learnt from some ladies of the C.MS at Iganga. His ability to write and speak English surpassed anybody else who had been at school.
Having won his father’s position, Y.N.M. Zirabamuzaale did not sit back complacently and enjoy himself but worked hard to improve conditions. Thus he showed himself to be an extraordinarily competent ruler and in due course he was transferred to Kigulu, the Ssaza Chief of the Ngobi clan, in July 1922. This transfer was effected by the dismissal of Gidion Oboja and the absence of a competent successor from the members of the Ngobi clan. Mr. D. Nsobani, Gombolola Chief Sabadu in Bugweri, was the only member of the Ngobi clan available, but he was considered unfit by both the Busoga Lukiiko and the Protectorate Government. He was only promised promotion should he prove himself competent.
Mr. Y.N.M Zirabamuzaale was the only man fit to occupy Ngobi’s office for he had shown himself a very worthy ruler even if he was not of the Ngobi clan. Moreover, this transfer was a departure from the established custom in Busoga whereby a member of a given clan could succeed to the chieftainship of the clan – this was an age of hereditary chieftainship. To appease the remonstrance which this departure aroused, D. Nsobani was made Ssaza Chief of Kigulu. D. Nsobani’s grandfather, GonzaAbato had rebelled against Ngobi Walusansa and assumed independence in his own mitala.
In his boyhood D. Nsobani was first educated in the Iganga Day School, C.M.S., in 1930. Later on, he was taken on as a houseboy to Rev. Hannington and served until the death of his father. In 1914 he went to King’s College, Budo. He studied well and was outstanding at games and sports. He was unequalled in these things by any one at school. He was a good singer and knew every hymn in the Hymn Book.
While still at school, he served in the Uganda Police in 1916, during the war. After leaving school he worked in the D.C’s office at Jinja for one month before he was made Gombolola Chief, on 16 September, 1919, in Bugweri. He became Ssaza Chief of Bugweri on 22 May, 1922.
The following are the names of those brave fighters in Bugweri who were never Chiefs:-
1. Gwanotyo, son of Wobira, and Kibenge, son of Menya I.
2. Naibani, who lived during the reign of Menya Nkutu. He was a very popular man, liked by everybody. His father was Kawa Mutangula, whom people used to ridicule because of his son.
3. Ndikobo lived in Nkutu’s day.
4. Nakalangaka lived during Menya II’s reign. He was the first brave man to win the shield which was a prize for cleanliness. The shield was a very handsome trophy beautifull adorned with a he-goat’s beard.
5. Walyosana, who lived during Nkutu’s time.
6. Kyebaiga.
7. Mulalu.
8. Galuvuvu
9. Namani
10. Magoba.
11. Igoba.
12. Lumbali.
The following were the outstanding Katikiros in Bugweri: —
1. Kawa, who was Katikiro to Kakaire and a few of his grandchildren.
2. Baisemusobya worked as Katikiro until the time of Menya Wanume.
3. Lukenge was Katikiro up to the time of Wangubo, and even served five other successive Menyas.
4. Ndegeya was Kiyuba’s Katikiro.
5. Mulalu was Naigambi’s Katikiro and served until 1907.
During the second return of Y.M. Zirabamuzaale to Bugweri, 4 March, 1938.
At 12.20 p.m. on 4 March, 1938, Mr. E.A. Temple- Perkins, Provincial Commissioner, Eastern Province, and Mr. 0.C. Noel, District Commissioner, Busoga, arrived at Busesa in Bugweri. E.T. Wako II had already arrived there and was seated in Menya’s office, which was built of bricks with an iron roof. There were many people present from all walks of life, including the following Ssaza chiefs: -
1. W.W.K. Nadiope, Ssaza Chief of Bugabula
2. Y.K. Lubogo, Ssaza Chief of Bulamogi
3. Z. Nabikamba, Ssaza Chief of Luuka
4. S. Mugoya, Ssaza Chief of Bukoli
5. Y. Balita, Ssaza Chief of Bunya
6. E. Muinda, acting Ssaza Chief of Busiki.including the two Ssaza chiefs who were being transferred, Mr. Y.M. Zirabamuzaale and Mr. D. Nsobani. The compound of the office was full of people. There was all sorts of music being played, including the marching band of Busoga Primary School.
After the P.C. had taken his seat on the platform the D.C. addressed the people and formally introduced Mr. Y.N.M. Zirabamuzaale to the P.C. He said that Y.M.N. Zirabamuzale had been serving as Ssaza Chief of Kigulu for many years. That very morning a ceremony had just been held at Iganga in which D. Nsobani was introduced to the people of Kigulu as their new chief, and that Y.M.N. Zirabamuzale was then returned to Bugweri as Menya. The people were very pleased and loudly cheered their chief who was back among them. The D.C. continued by asking everybody in Bugweri to co-operate with their chief.
Then Mr. E. Wako, the President of the Busoga Lukiiko, stood up and also introduced Mr. Y.M.N. Zirabamuzaale to the D. C., who again introduced him to the P.C. Then Mr. Y.M.N. Zirabamuzaale gave a short pleasant speech. He said that he was made Ssaza Chief of Bugweri on 14 April, 1919 and was thus removed from the D.C.’s office at Jinja. On 22 May, 1919 he was transferred to Kigulu, where he served for 15 years and 9 months and 12 days. He said that the people of Kigulu were very co-operative.
Then the P.C. addressed the people and pointed out the importance of the occasion to the people of Bugweri. He said that the Government endeavoured to please the majority of people although it was very difficult to please everyone. He was very pleased to be able to return Y.M.N. Zirabamuzaale to his own people and that his return to Bugweri was a necessary step taken by the Government in order that all counties in Busoga. were ruled by their hereditary chiefs. Some new forms of councils were due to be started soon in Busoga and that membership of these councils would be open to everybody in Busoga. He hoped that these councils would bring much benefit to Busoga since they could consist of various chiefs and some educated young men. He emphasised that these councils would not in any way diminish the power of the chiefs, but that they would only assist the chief, just as the Legislative Council assists the Governor. The Legislative Council and the Executive Committee do not over-ride the Governor’s power. This was the same thing as done in England. He also observed the presence of some women (ladies) in the meeting and he interpreted it to mean uniform progress of the country, since women were people most concerned with the early development (education) of their children; that by attending such occasions, women would know what sort of things to teach their children. Lastly, the P.C. congratulated Mr. Y.M.N. Zirabamuzaale on the efficient way he had done his job in Kigulu. Although Bugweri was much smaller than Kigulu, he should be content with it since it was his own Ssaza. He also praised him for his unhesitating consent to return to Bugweri. He promised to continue the salary of shs 2,600 a year which he had been getting as Ssaza Chief of Kigulu, despite the size of Bugweri. He wished him a happy time in his new office, then sat down.
Then E. Wako the P.B.L., addressed the P.C. and the people, he expressed his great pleasure at the return of Y.M.N. Zirabamuzaale to his own people of Bugweri. Then the P.C. asked the people of Bugweri whether they wished him to extend their thanks to H.E. The Governor of Uganda, and F.N. Kireri, on behalf of the people of Bugweri, answered ‘Yes’ wholeheartedly.
E. Wako quoted a Kisoga saying which means that it is better to be a herdsman of a few cattle of your own than for a large collection of cattle which do not belong to you. This was just meant to justify what the P.C. had said in connection with the size of Bugweri. He then extended his sincere thaks to Mr. D. Nsobani for his term of service as Menya of Bugweri; since he had made many friends in Bugwer