Kabaka of Buganda

Buganda has no concept equivalent to the Crown Prince. All the princes are equally treated prior to the coronation of a new king following the death of a reigning monarch. However, during the period of a reigning king, a special council has the mandate to study the behavior and characteristics of the young princes. The reigning king, informed by the recommendation of the special council, selects one prince to be his successor. In a secret ceremony, the selected prince is given a special piece of bark cloth by the head of the special verification council. The name of the "king-to-be" is kept secret by the special council until the death of the reigning king. When all the princes and princesses are called to view the body of the late king lying in state, the selected prince lays the special piece of bark cloth over the body of the late king, revealing himself as the successor to the throne. By tradition, Baganda children take on the clan of their biological fathers. It is a common misconception that the Kabaka (king) of Buganda takes his clan from his mother. Some go as far as saying that Buganda's royal family was matrilineal. Neither of these assertions is true. The Kabaka has his own clan which is called the royal clan "Olulyo Olulangira". Members of this clan are referred to as abalangira for males and abambejja for females. The misconception arose in part because the royal clan has no totem which is something that all other Baganda clans have. However, the totem should not be confused with the clan. The totem is just a symbol but the clan is a matter of genealogy. The royal clan has its own genealogy traced along the patrilineal line, extending all the way back to Kintu. The firstborn prince, by tradition called Kiweewa, is not allowed to become king. That was carefully planned to protect him against any attempted assassinations in a bid to fight for the crown. Instead, he is given special roles to play in the matters of the royal family and kingdom. Thus, the name of the possible successor to the throne remains secret. The only exception to this rule occurred during the religious civil war when in 1888, a firstborn prince, Kiweewa was made King. == Kings of Buganda ==

• Kato Kintu, early fourteenth century • Chwa I, mid fourteenth century • Kimera, • Ttembo, c. 1404c. 1434 • Kiggala, 1434– 1464 and 1484– 1494 • Kiyimba, 1464– 1484 • Kayima, 1494– 1524 • Nakibinge, 1524– 1554 Brief Interregnum, 1554– 1555 • Mulondo, 1555–1564 • Jemba, 1564– 1584 • Suuna I, 1584– 1614 • Sekamaanya, 1614– 1634 • Kimbugwe, 1634– 1644 • Kateregga, 1644– 1674 • Mutebi I, 1674– 1680 • Juuko, 1680– 1690 • Kayemba, 1690– 1704 • Tebandeke, 1704– 1724 • Ndawula, 1724– 1734 • Kagulu, 1734– 1736 • Kikulwe, 1736– 1738 • Mawanda, 1738– 1740 • Ndugwa I, 1740– 1741 • Namuggala, 1741– 1750 • Kyabaggu, 1750– 1780 • Jjunju, 1780– 1797 • Semakookiro, 1797– 1814 • Kamaanya, 1814–1832 • Suuna II, 1832–1856 • Muteesa I, 1856–1884 • Mwanga II, 1884–1888 and 1889–1897 • Kiweewa, 1888 • Kalema, 1888–1889 • Daudi Cwa II, 1897–1939 • Mutesa II, 1939–1967 (abolition) or 1969 (death) Second Interregnum; Monarchy abolished under the 1967 Ugandan Constitution, 1967–1993 • Muwenda Mutebi II, 1993–present == Quotes ==

"The Kiganda Monarchy in its purest form ended with Suuna; under Mutesa I, it was scorched; and under Mwanga it was destroyed." • G. N. Uzoigwe, Britain and the Conquest of Africa, 1974 "Whatever else divided the Baganda; they were united under the institution of Kabaka and derived their pride from service to the Kabaka and nation." • Samwiri Lwanga Lunyiigo, Mwanga II, 2011 == See also ==