CHAPTER 44
MUKAMA AND KINTU
There are two major ways in which the history of the ancestors of Busoga is told. Each of these ways is again sub-divided until we come down to individual details, such as the narration of individual persons or clans given in the previous chapters. This type of narrative history is given by members of the clan under consideration. For this reason the reader is asked to be observant as he reads through the chapters, so that he notices the different sources or origins of ancestors given by the different clans.
There are many profound differences between the narrative history of every clan in Busoga. The reason for this is because all this history is memory-history which suffered much alteration, omission or false addition, as it was being handed down from generation to generation. It is, therefore, very difficult to arrange the history of Busoga in its proper chronological order. It is even more difficult to ascertain the truth of some of the historical statements.
a) Busoga is historically divided into two major parts. The line of division is drawn from the demarcation with Samya-Kavirondo, now known as Budama district, towards Lake Victoria but some distance away from it and on across the hills of Luwalambago, through Nyenda, Bulanga, Kamigo, Bukanga, along the River Nile and up to Lake Kyoga. The line curves in the direction of the River Mpologoma, across which it runs, cutting off large parts of Bugwere, Bunyuli and Budama district, and back to the starting point in Samya. The area within this circle belonged to the lineage of Mukama, with the exception of Kisiki Igaga.
b) Starting from the demarcation between Wakoli’s and Igulu’s countries, on the shores of Lake Victoria, including the islands of Buvuma, Kingira, Buluta, Bugaya, Kabale, Kasaja and others, form the part owned by the lineage of Kintu. Their area also included tho following islands which were situated in Lake Victoria : - Nairima, Lingira, Butale, Kabale, Jasanja, Bugaya, Jaguzi, Namiti, Iziru, Sagitu and many others. The line of demarcation runs as far down as the River Nile, including the areas, Ntembe, Nukwanga, Bugule, Kamigo, Batambogwe, Igombe, Bunya and Igulu’s part. This area belonged to members of Kintu’s lineage, excluding the lineage of Kitima of Nyange clan.
The history of the coming of Mukama into Busoga differs from the corresponding history of Kintu.
a) Some people state that Mukama came from the east and that he had with him many wives, children, servants, cattle, goats, sheep, dogs, fowls and other things. Nobody knows the real origin of Mukama before he came to Busoga. Moreover, some people state that all the children mentioned in this chapter belonged to Mukama and were therefore, subjected to the traditions and customs of their father’s clan. It is said that Kakaire was rejected by all his brothers; no statements are made in acceptance of the fact that Kakaire was truly a son of Mukama.
b) Another group of historians maintain that Mukama never came to Busoga but that he sent his own children to settle in the latter country. These are now represented by the hereditary chiefs in the various parts of Busoga. Mukama himself lived in Bunyoro but all the children in Busoga accepted him as their father. What is doubtful to the later generation is whether Mukama ever came to Busoga.
The history, as given by the lineage of Kintu, is more inconsistent; whereas these people believe that they belong to the lineage of Kintu, their customs and traditions are diverse. Some belong to Mpologoma clan, others to Njaza clan and still others belong to Nkerewe, Ngo, Nyonyi and Jobyo clans. They all inter-marry, a thing which is never done by those of the lineage of Mukama. The latter people, all belong to one Ngobi clan. This fact makes it difficult for us to believe that all the different clans mentioned above were of the lineage of Kintu. It is possible that, with the exception of the Njaza clan, the rest were mere followers of Kintu.
It is evidently true that a man named either Kintu or Mukama ever lived in Busoga. It is probable that this man was known by two different names. A comprehensive survey may reveal the fact that those people who know Kintu live in those parts of Busoga which are in the neighbourhood of Buganda. It might be that these people learnt the name from Buganda. Those people who believe that a man named Mukama once lived in Busoga, live in Budama, Samya, Bugwere, Bukoli, Kigulu, Bukono, Bulamogi. All these countries are far away from Bunyoro so it cannot be thought that they were influenced from Bunyoro. Moreover their languages and customs are similar to those of Bunyoro. Many people in these parts name their children Mukama. All these things seem to prove that Mukama actually came to Busoga.
Some of Kintu’s lineage state that Kintu came from the east and travelled through Busoga and lived at Igombe, where he died. But members of the Namusubo clan state that Kintu descended from heaven with his wife, Nambi and that he arrived in Busoga long before Mukama did, and even his children. It is possible that those people whom Mukama, or his sons, the princes of Busoga, found living on the shores of Lake Victoria were the children of Kintu. It is also possible that these shore-dwellers were in Bukoli. These shore- dwellers were a ruling clan. One day a man named Mukwaya, a herdsman in the service of the sons of Kintu, luckily picked the beads of chieftainship.When he showed these beads to the public, he was automatically made chief over his servants. Mukwaya was a member of Ngobi clan and his other name was Okali. He was one of the Sons of Mukama who had come to live in Busoga. Thus, beyond all expectation, Okali, son of Mukama, snatched the chieftainship from the sons of Kintu. He was the first Wakoli and his lineage was automatically linked to that of Kintu; but before Mukwaya became Wakoli, 22 people of the lineage of Kintu had ruled Kigulu successively, 21 ruled Bugweri, 16 ruled Bukono, 11 ruled Buzaya, I ruled Bulamogi, 11 ruled Bugabula and 11 ruled Luuka.
People who regard themselves as ‘Balangira’ in other parts of Busoga could marry ‘Bambeja’ of Bukoli. This practice came to an end in 1920 when a ceremony of re-unification was held by the members of Ngobi clan elsewhere in Busoga and those of Bukoli. But sons. and daughters of Bugweri still safely marry people of Bukoli although they belong to the lineage of Mukama.