Sunday 30^th August was yet again the Annual Clans of the Baganda in the UK  Sports day which was held at McMillan Stadium at Newham Leisure Centre in East London. As usual, it was a well attended event with a range of activities to suit almost everybody from the age of 3 upwards. Competitive activities included table tennis, badminton, basket ball, omweso, draughts, football and athletics field and track. The 50 plus had no excuse not to participate as there was a walking race as well. As last year, Jomayi Property Consultants teamed up with Empapula Za Kakobe magazine to sponsor this event with contribution from Pier One Sound Systems plus the many volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly.

The essence of this sports day is to bring together the Baganda in their major building block which is the clan. It is an opportunity not only to have fun and keep fit but to fraternise with one’s clansmates, strengthen the sense of togetherness and, probably most importantly, inculcate in the young ones, even those born outside of Buganda, the fact that they have strong cultural roots which they should cherish wherever they are. It makes them aware that they are related to people they may never have met before and this sense of belonging to a wider, bigger entity which eventually makes you a Muganda and explains one’s surname and eventually who you may and may not marry is treasured.

This sports day is unique in that it involves everyone who wants to compete and amass points for their clan unlike back at home where only those selected as good enough and trained represent their clan. This makes everyone feel important for their clan.

The medals ceremony was presided over by Prince Daudi Ggolooba and Naalinnya Elizabeth Nakabiri introduced by Fred Ssemugera the Chairman of Ebika Bya Baganda E Bungereza. This was preceeded by the crowds rendering of”Ekitiibwa kya Buganda ” ( Buganda’s anthem )which was made jespecially joyful by the  under 13’s who sung it with gusto and enthusiasm. All this was after one of the highlights of the day, the tug of war which is one of the events where one sees the effort and pride contestants put in on behalf of their clans, the weaker ones often being literary dragged on the floor but still walking off with pride. The medals won, especially by the young people, were the icing on the cake. Many winners walked away proudly with wide smiles and a sense of belonging and worthiness, let alone the self esteem of achievement for self and clan.

This year, Ngabi were toppled into second place by Mmamba. Third were Lugave and Ndiga fourth. A total of twenty six clans were represented.

The head of one of the largest and most powerful Baganda clans, Mmamba (lung fish), passed away on January 20, 2009 after an extended period of poor health. Gabunga Yosiya Kasozi died in Mulago Hospital. Gabunga was  86 years old (Not 90 as we reported earlier in Gabunga Yosiya Kasozi of Mmamba Clan Is Very Sick).  He has been in bad general health for over a year. In his condolence message to members of the Mmamba clan, Ssabasajja Kabaka Mutebi II expressed deep sorrow at the loss of the Mmamba patriarch.

According to sources, the deceased Mmamba patriarch included in his last will and testament a strong statement warning Kabaka’s subjects that Mmengo [under the leadership of Katikkiro JB Walusimbi] is actively contributing to the weakening of clans and their leaders which could undermine the Kingdom. His statement reminds Baganda that their clan system is the foundation of the Kingdom, pointing out that when Kabaka Mutebi took rein in 1993 Baganda were still one unity and many more than when Milton Obote exile Ssekabaka Muteesa II in 1966 because the clan system still worked.

A few years ago Kabaka Mutebi authorized members of the Nankere sub clan (ssiga) within  Mmamba to break off and become an autonomous clan, named Mmamba Enkerekere. This development put Gabunga Kasozi under a lot of stress but there appears no evidence that it contributed to his health problems.  On the contrary, according to Mmamba sources, Yosiya Kasozi has been fiercely loyal to Kabaka Mutebi and very concerned about the corruption and disrespect for Kabaka which have become common place in Mmengo.

The first Gabunga of the Mmamba clan was Mubiru who is estimated to have been alive around the year 1250. Yosiya Kasozi was the 36th Gabunga and reined for over 49 years. He ascended to the position of Gabunga in 1959, when he succeeded his late father Semyoni Galiwango Gabunga. His mother was the late Kulisitiina Noola Ndwaddewazibwa of the Nsenene clan.

We have verified information from young members of the Mmamba clan at Makerere University  that the head of the (lung fish) clan,   “Jajja” Yosiya Kasozi is quite sick. Gabunga Kasozi  who is over 90 years old, has been in bad general health for about a year and even having trouble to talk to his grandchildren, all the Mmamba clan members.

The first Gabunga of the Mmamba clan was Mubiru who is estimated to have been alive around the year 1250. Yosiya Kasozi is the 36th Gabunga. He ascended to the position of Gabunga in 1959, when he succeeded his late father Semyoni Galiwango Gabunga. His mother was the late Kulisitiina Noola Ndwaddewazibwa of the Nsenene clan.

A few years ago Kabaka Mutebi authorized members of the Nankere sub clan (ssiga) within  Mmamba to break off and become an autonomous clan, named Mmamba Enkerekere. This development put Gabunga Kasozi under a lot of stress but there appears no evidence that it had anything to do with his health problems. Most observers believe that his biggest problem is old age.
Those who wish to send their get well messages or other support to Omutaka Gabunga can contact the Katikkiro of their clan, Dr. Kimala Nsubuga through the head of the Buganda Certificate office at Mengo Bulange. The email is joynamutebi@yahoo.co.uk.

Under Baganda culture, a person is a Muganda if his or her father is a Muganda. Each Muganda belongs to one of the 54 Baganda clans. Over the centuries, Baganda have allowed a few exceptions to this general rule. Large populations of people who wish to join or were conquered by Buganda could be admitted as a new clan. The new clan would integrate into Buganda by pledging their loyalty to Kabaka and adopting  Baganda customs such as barring intra clan marriage. Baganda clans grew from fewer than 20 to over 50 in this way.

The second major historical path has been when large populations of non-Baganda join Buganda after a war or treaty and get absorbed into different Baganda clans by being given Masiga and Mituba (subclan groups). This is how many people originally from Buluuli, Kooki, Buvuma, Bugerere and Bukunja became solid Baganda.  A third but less formal path is one where foreigners have adopted Baganda cultural practices and names and sought sponsorship from prominent Baganda families to get their children recruited into a given clan. However, the acceptance is normally at Lujja or Mutuba level but never at Kasolya level. Ordinarily the foreigner does this to ‘earn’ his or children and grandchildren the honor of becoming Baganda.
If you have an important story about your clan which can be easily verified, submit it to info@bugandapost.com  and we will seriously consider publishing it.

Sources close to the Uganda North American Association (UNAA) Vice President, Moses Kalemba, tell this reporter that NRM operatives have a plot to derail Ttabamiruka ’09 during the next Ggawangamujje Boston general meeting. The meeting is to be held on November 9, 2008, and according to our sources in Boston, the strategy that Kalemba and Bukenya emphasize first changing the Ttabamiruka date from September to May. Bukenya is a diehard NRM who, like Kalemba, takes the view that Baganda events like Ttabamiruka must not become an alternative to their UNAA Convention. However, they support similar conferences by Basoga, Bakiga, Bamasaba, Acholis and other nationalities.

According to the sources, the Kalemba/Bukenya team scored first when they bulldozed a clearly weak Ggwangamujje Executive to agree that changing of the Ttabamiruka ’09 date to May or July be put to a vote in a general meeting. And now they are engaged in a well funded intense ground campaign (“kakuyege”) to get very many of their supporters to the November 9, 2008 meeting and vote for the date change they want.  Apparently, they are confident that, once the date is changed to May 2009, there simply will not be enough time for the Ggwangamujje Executive to organize a serious Ttabamiruka. So, in short order the powerful Baganda conference which shook Museveni in 2007 and 2008 will be dead.

Members of the Ggwangamujje Boston Executive include Reverend Nakabaale (President), NRM’s Bukenya (Vice President), Prof. Lugira, Kato Kajubi, Samalie Kajubi, Ssali, Mark Kizza, Mayanja and Dan Nvule. Historically, the Boston chapter of Ggwangamujje has suffered from NRM manipulation, placing a cloud of doubt over the overall loyalty of Boston Baganda to their Kabaka and nation. The immediate past president of Ggwangamujje Boston is Abdul Kimbugwe who simultaneously held that position with Chairmanship of UNAA. Kimbugwe was later widely reported to be an ISO operative who was later recalled by State House and given a consultant job in Uganda Revenue Authority. All evidence so far is that Reverend Nakabaale and a few others on his Executive may be committed to the Buganda cause but they simply don’t have the experience and organizational skills to fight off the NRM.

Bukenya is Vice President of Ggwangamujje Boston but also, together with Kalemba,  one of the UNAA Convention organizers.  He is one of the NRMs strongest activists and has on many occasions spoken against Ttabamiruka. He has never attended a Ttabamiruka conference but was one of the key organizers of the UNAA convention in Florida. Moses Kalemba is Vice President of UNAA and a well known opponent of Ttabamiruka. This reporter has reliably learnt that Moses Kalemba is a Muganda or Mmamba but opposed to Baganda only affairs.

On September 25, 2008, Buganda Post broke the story that Boston Baganda were  threatening to report, directly to Kabaka Mutebi that NRM activists in the USA who had accepted money from Kampala were plotting to sabotage the next Ttabamiruka conference.  This reporter kindly requests all those who will attend the November 9, 2008, Ggwangamujje general meeting to send your observation to info@bugandapost.com.

According to investigations by this reporter , the head of the Baganda Mmamba clan never accepted a Mulugwaala into his clan as reported by a Uganda’s government newspaper.  A mutaka (elder) in the Mmamba clan told this reporter that, although he did not want to publically attack the Mmamba clan administration, he had to clear the name of “Jajja” Yosiya Kasozi on this matter.  Gabunga is the title of the head of the Mmamba (lung fish) clan, one the most prominent among the 54 Baganda clans. A report in the Uganda government owned Bukedde news paper shocked many Baganda by its suggestion that that one Peter Onziye, a Lugbara, went to Gabunga, asked for and was granted membership in the Mmamba clan.

The mutaka who did not want his name revealed due to the sensitivity of the issue of fake Baganda said in Luganda: “I can assure you that Jajja Gabunga who is 90 years now, has been seriously sick for months and can even hardly talk to us his grandchildren; he could not have been involved in what was reported.  And like other clan heads, Gabunga is very concerned about the issue of foreigners impersonating Baganda for temporary convenience and, later on, doing things that are anti-Baganda.  Without naming names, I must remind people that some of the most dangerous projects against Buganda, like trying to sell the Lubiri, were first introduced by the so called Buganda think-tank  which is loaded by greedy people who are not genuine Baganda.”

The mutaka went on to explain Baganda identity as follows:  “Under Baganda culture, a person is a Muganda if his or her father is a Muganda. Each Muganda belongs to one of the 50 plus Baganda clans. Over the centuries, Baganda have allowed a few exceptions to this general rule. Large populations of people who wish to join or were conquered by Buganda could be admitted as a new clan. The new clan would integrate into Buganda by pledging their loyalty to Kabaka and adopting  Baganda customs such as barring intra clan marriage. Baganda clans grew from less than 20 to over 50 in this way.

“The second major historical path has been when large populations of non-Baganda join Buganda after a war or treaty and get absorbed into different Baganda clans by being given Masiga and Mituba (subclan groups). This is how many people originally from Buluuli, Kooki, Buvuma, Bugerere and Bukunja became solid Baganda.  A third but less formal path is one where foreigners have adopted Baganda cultural practices and names and sought sponsorship from prominent Baganda families to get their children recruited into a given clan. However, the acceptance is normally at Lujja or Mutuba level but never at Kasolya level. Ordinarily the foreigner does this to ‘earn’ his or children and grandchildren the honor of becoming . As you can see, being a Muganda is a really tough thing. The problem is that now there are a few corrupt clan officials who think that it is alright to have someone like Onziye walk off the street, give you 50,000 and you make him a Muganda.”

The elder encouraged all Bazzukulu ba Gabunga (Mmamba clan members) to directly tell the Katikkiro of their clan, Dr. Kimala Nsubuga,  that whatever happened with Onziye must not happen again. And to tell Haj. Aga Sekalala that allowing his Radio Simba to call Onziye the name Nsubuga would be a sign of disrespect to the Baganda in general, and Mmamba clansmen in particular. For Onziye, the mutaka had a veiled warning: “I hope Mr. Onziye realizes that, at this point in time, it is not good for him to become famous for bribing clan officials to become a Muganda and ridicule Baganda customs so publicly.”