CHAPTER 16
HOW THE NJAZA CLAN CAME INTO BUSOGA (BUSWIKIRA)
It is said that while Kintu was in Buganda at a place called Nsege, in Kyagwe county, he had a son whom he named Kitaka. When Kitaka became of age, Kintu gave him the whole of Nsege to rule. It is believed up to this day that the part of Kyagwe extending from the River Musamya and across the Nile belonged to Busoga. Musamya was the principal boundary between Buganda and Busoga. Kabaka conquered this area and thus extended his country up to the Nile.
Some years later Kintu left Buganda and came to settle in Busoga at a place called Igombe, near Buswikira. Before he left for Busoga, Kintu was living at Magonga, in Buganda. He lived in Busoga many years and after his death was buried at Buswikira.
The Baganda do not regard this migration as having been deliberate but that Kintu had merely gone astray. Be it what it may, Kintu’s burial ground is regarded as a highly holy place by the people who worship it. In ancient times, any children that had any physical defects were sacrificed there. Further still, any living thing that was born with a defect was given as an offering at this place. A belief was evolved among the people that anything born with defect was Kintu’s due share.
Later on, Kitaka, son of Kintu, left Nsege and came to Busoga to look for his father. On his arrival he found that Kintu had been dead for many years and only some of his followers were still living. Kitaka was shown his father’s tomb and decided to live in this place for the rest of his days. He had with him his wife called Naigwe and many followers, chief among them were Kyema, of the fish clan (Nsuma), Ingia, of the edible rat clan, and Kiimba of Nyonyi clan. Kitaka himself is believed to have belonged to the Njaza clan.
While at Buswikira, Kitaka had two children, a son and a daughter. The son was named Kifunvu or Kibubuli, the daughter was named Naigwe after her mother.
When Kitaka died, he was succeeded by his son Kifunvu. When Kifunvu became a man, he married a girl who belonged to the Baiseruba clan, whose totem is Nanza. The girl’s name was Nalubanga. Later Kibubuli resorted to polygamy and had many children as a result. He did not live at Buswakira for many years; he broke up his fathers mbuga and moved to mutala Buvuta, on the hill called Ingome, at a place known as Busamo. There he built his new nbuga. The following were some of his children: - Kibwika, Ibulabato, Mambala also kown as Ngunirire, Igombe, Kalikolaki, Wangubo, Muluwe and Namabale.
Once Kifunvu fought a series of battles against the inhabitants of Bugaya and Buvuma Islands which stand in Lake Victoria. The ruling clan of the two islands had ‘Mamba’ as their totem and were known as Muganda. Kifunvu defeated the inhabitants and conquered the islands which he placed under the rule of Kibwika. Then he gave Busamo to Igombe. Ibulabato Mambala (Ngunirire) was given Bubambala area. Kalikolaki was given Busakira, previously known as Nanyima. The new name was derived from Busakira, who later succeeded Kalikolaki. Wangubo was given Bugaya, previously known as Buzimba. Muluwe was given Butambala. Namabale was given the area which was then known as Namasaka but is now known as Bugulu. Kifunya’s youngest son named Nabwana was given no country owing to his age.
After the conquering of the islands, Kifunvu stayed on the islands where he died. Some people state that he returned to the mainland and died there. In any case, he was succeeded by his youngest son, Nabwana. The new chief ruled over the islands off the shores of Bunya. He had his mbuga built at Nabubi on the mainland; from here he ruled over the islands but he met his death on Buvuma Island, where he had gone on tour.