Ssuuna II of Buganda

He was born at Bujuuko Hill around 1820. He was the son of Kabaka Kamaanya Kadduwamala, Kabaka of Buganda, who reigned between 1814 and 1832. His mother was Nakkazi Kannyange, the twenty-third of his father's thirty-eight wives. He ascended to the throne upon the death of his father in 1832, having executed all his brothers in order to remain as the sole heir. He established his capital on Mulago Hill. ==Married life==

Kabaka Ssuuna II continued in the tradition started by his grandfather and copied by his father; the practice of marrying an extraordinary number of wives. Ssuuna II outdid all of them. He is reported to have married one hundred forty eight wives. Like in many areas of the world (royal intermarriage), the Kabakas of Buganda used marriage as a tool to create and cement bonds and alliances with rivals especially from the other clans of Buganda as well as important chiefs. This ensured that the next Kabaka would be a relative of anyone of Buganda's clans and possibly of an important chief. So every clan and important chief tried to ensure that one of its daughters became a wife to the current Kabaka. ==Issue==

As expected, the Kabaka having married 148 wives, he fathered a large number of children. Written accounts put the number as high as 218 to 221 children. • Prince (Omulangira) Kajumba • Prince (Omulangira) Kiyimba, whose mother was Lady Zawedde • Princess (Omumbejja) Nassuuna, whose mother was Lady Zawedde • Prince (Omulangira) Mukaabya Walugembe, whose mother was Lady Muganzirwazza • Prince (Omulangira) Nuhu Mbogo This reference lists the names of all of them, giving the names of their mothers in most cases. ==Reign==

Kabaka Ssuuna was only twelve 12 years when he ascended to the throne. He was a handsome boy, taking after the looks of his mother, Nakkazi Kannyange, reportedly one of the most beautiful women in Buganda at the time. He began as a popular monarch, loved by his people. However, as he grew more confident, he became cocky and ruthless. He gave himself a string of names that implied invincibility and super-normal powers. He ordered the execution of fifty eight of his sixty brothers. Only two escaped the carnage: • Prince (Omulangira) Wasajja, whose mother was Nakkazi of the Mamba clan (not Nakkazi Kannyange) • Prince (Omulangira) Mugogo, whose mother was Kyotowadde of the Mamba clan By the time of his death Kabaka Ssuuna II turned out to be one of the most ruthless of the Buganda kings. ==Final years==

In his final years, Kabaka Ssuuna sent an emissary to the king of Buzongola. On his return, the emissary delivered a less than flattering message from Buzongola. Ssuuna took this as a slight and waged war against the kingdom of Buzongola. The Katikiro, Kayira, the Kabaka's great chiefs and the Queen mother all advised against embarking on a military campaign in a time of famine and small pox. The Kabaka proceeded with the ill advised war. Despite emerging victorious and driving out the king of Buzongola, the combined effects of war, smallpox and famine greatly weakened his armies and most of his men died before reaching Buganda. Kabaka Ssuuna II died of smallpox on his way back to Buganda in October 1856. Kayiira brought his remains back to Nabulagala. His remains are currently buried at Wamala. ==Quotes==

"He was a very cruel man: he was brave in war, he was a hunter of wild animals and very fond of hunting dogs. At times, however, he was kind, so they say, and it is well known that cruel kings at times exercise kindness so that they shall not be hated by their subjects. Such was Ssuuna." • Ham Mukasa, "Some Notes on the Reign of Mutesa", 1934 ==Wamala tombs==

Wamala is the sacred burial place of Kabaka Ssuuna II, who was the last Kabaka to be buried in his own palace and the last to have his jaw bone removed after death. It is located on a hilltop about off Hoima Road. ==Succession table==